-m^^mu 




THE 

HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Has been printed exclusively for private distribution, 
in an edition of two hundred and fifty copies, 
of which this is No. 

Presented to 



with the 
Compliments of the author. 



NARRATIVE HISTORY OF REMSEN 



ARMS 

OF 

THE REMSEN FAMILY 



A 
NARRATIVE 

HISTORY o/REMSEN 

NEW YORK 
Including parts of adjoining townships of 

STEUBEN and TRENTON 

1789-1898 

% MILLARD F. ROBERTS 




"Which we have heard and known, and such as our fathers have 
told us; that we should not hide them from the generations to come." 

— Psalms 



PUBLISHED 

BY THE AUTHOR 

1914 



f/zf 



Copyright 19 14 
By Millard F. Roberts 



Printed by 

Lyman Bros. Inc., Syracuse, N. Y 

For the author 

JUL 21 1 ^'4 

©CI.A376724 



TO 

THE MEMORY 

OF THE 

PIONEERS AND EARLY SETTLERS 

OF 

REMSEN AND VICINITY 



PREFACE 

Perhaps it is superfluous to suggest to the reader who 
is familiar with Remsen, that the material from which 
these pages have been prepared was gathered from 
vastly wide and scattered sources — gleaned here and 
there, bit by bit, through years of patient effort; for in 
no one collection was there assembled anything like 
sufficient data from which a history of this region could 
be compiled with any degree of completeness. And it 
is with this fact in mind, that I wish hereby to acknowl- 
edge my indebtedness to the following works for valu- 
able information: 

"The Documentary History of New York;" "Spaf- 
ford's Gazetteer of New York," (Editions of 1813 and 
1824); "Gordon's Gazetteer of New York;" Hotchkin's 
"History of Western New York;" Turner's "Pioneer 
History of the Holland Purchase;" Barber and Howe's 
"Historical Collections of New York;" Jones' "Annals 
of Oneida County;" Durant's "History of Oneida 
County;" "Our County and its People," by Daniel 
Wager; Benton's "History of Herkimer County;" 
Hough's "Histories of Lewis and Jefferson Counties;" 
"History of the Calvinistic Methodists of Utica and 
Vicinity," by T. Solomon Griffiths; "A History of 
Wales," by 0. Morion Morgan; "History of the Welsh 
in America," by Rev. R. D. Thomas; McMaster's "His- 
tory of the People of the United States;" Snowden's 
"History of the State of Washington;" "The Journal 
of John Lincklaen," agent of the Holland Land Com- 
pany, and the "Autobiography of Francis Adrian Van 
der Kemp," the last two edited by Mrs. Helen Linck- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 



laen Fairchild, of Cazenovia, N. Y.; "Y Cenhadwr 
Americanaidd" (American Messenger), a Welsh maga- 
zine published in Remsen for more than forty years; 
the State Geologist's Reports; files of the Utica, Rome 
and Boonville newspapers; and the state, county and 

town records. . , , . j . iv/r 

For much valuable assistance I am mdebted to Mrs. 
Eveline (Allen) Rockwood, of Union City, Pa., long a 
resident of Remsen, and who from the time she was 
fifteen years of age taught school here and m surround- 
ing districts for several years, thus having a most favor- 
able opportunity for knowing intimately the people 
who resided here at that time. From various remmis- 
cences written me after she had attained the age of 
eighty years and upwards, I have been able to give in 
these pages many names and historical facts that oth- 
erwise could not have been obtained; and thus on y 
for her superior intellect, retentive memory, and kindly 
interest in aiding the work, it would have fallen far 
short of what it is. 

I am also similarly under obligations to Mrs. Alsa- 
mena Owens, whose life of over ninety years has been 
spent here; and to Broughton W. Green, of Harmony, N. 
Y an early school-teacher in Remsen and Steuben; to 
Charles R. Green, of Lyndon, Kas. ; to Simeon R Fuller, 
of Holland Patent; to my grandfather, Robert M. Jones, 
who came here a boy, in 1801, and for fifty years was 
actively engaged in business, and whose entire residence 
here covered a period of more than seventy years; to 
William L. Piatt, of Sherburne, N. Y.; to Cornelius R. 
Jones, of Syracuse, N. Y.; to Mrs. Esther (Burchard) 
Buell, of Hamilton, N. Y.; to Mrs. Esther (Piatt) Saw- 
yer, of Hamilton, N. Y.; to G. W. Wheldon o Pueblo, 
Colo. ; to Mrs. Ann Farley, of Prospect, N. Y^, to Edwin 
Thomas, of Remsen; to Mrs. Jane (Evans) Roberts, of 



HISTORY OF REMSEN vil 

Bay City, Mich.; to F. W. Patterson, of Waterville, N. 
Y.; and especially to my mother, whose vivid recol- 
lections of people and events in this locality extended 
over a period of more than three quarters of a century. 

M. F. R. 
Syracuse, N. Y., 

January 25, 1914. 



INTRODUCTORY 

The gathering of the historical facts and reminis- 
cences presented in this volume was actuated at first by 
no motive other than the gratification of curiosity as to 
the march of early events in the place of my birth and 
home of my ancestors; but gradually more and more 
interest was inspired by my work, until diligent research 
and extended inquiry accumulated a mass of material 
that attained to unexpected proportions. It was then 
that I determined to embody in comprehensive form 
for permanent preservation much that I had gathered 
of Remsen's history, from the time its forests were first 
disturbed by the pioneer's axe, down to the close of the 
centennial year of its organization.* 

As to the scope of the proposed undertaking regarding 
the territory to be considered, there was forced upon 
me the fact that the principal settlement of my home 
township, the incorporated village of Remsen, extends 
into Trenton township; and that citizens of parts of 
both the townships of Trenton and Steuben always have 
been closely identified with those of Remsen in social, 
religious, and business associations. So it seemed im- 
perative that the contiguous districts should be in- 
cluded in the scope of the narrative. 

The task of compiling was not entered upon, however, 

*The year 1898. The task of compilation, and nearly all of the 
research work, was done at odd hours during years of busy pursuits. 
In the spring of 1897, when the first chapters were nearly ready for 
the press, a change of business which necessitated my removal to a 
distant city stopped all progress; and for fourteen years my notes 
and manuscript never saw the light. This will explain the omis- 
sion — with the exception of a few family sketches and biographies 
handed in later — of all records of a date subsequent to 1898. 



X HISTORY OF REMSEN 

without misgivings that the historic material to be 
found in a section entirely destitute of colonial and 
revolutionary incidents might prove rather uninterest- 
ing, and while it cannot be pretended that the vein has 
been found richer than it promised, it is, nevertheless, 
hoped that something of interest to the people of this 
locality has been preserved from the oblivion into which 
the annals and traditions of the early settlement were 
fast receding. 

I have been unable to enrich my collection by much 
documentary matter — letters, diaries, or memoranda. 
I found that little of the early history had ever been 
recorded. It rested largely in the memory of the pio- 
neers, who have long since gone from the scenes of their 
hardships and trials — those plain, hardy and free- 
hearted men who first broke into the original wilderness 
of these townships, and with their own hands began to 
make them what they now are. Much that would now 
be valuable and entertaining perished with them. 

The history of this region cannot be looked upon as 
a record of events that may be considered great. The 
chopping of forests, the building of cabins, the founding 
of settlements, and the gradual subjugation of a most 
stubborn wilderness are the only matter that can en- 
gage the attention of the chronicler. Therefore the 
events herein recounted are neither tragic nor widely 
important; the troubles rehearsed are far from over- 
whelming; the mysteries are not entirely mysterious; 
the disasters not always disastrous. No battles have 
ever been fought within these boundaries. "Pen-y- 
mynydd" and ''Boncen Fawr," within the memoiy of 
man have never spouted fire nor been shaken by an 
earthquake. No carved stones nor rusty weapons have 
ever been found on the "plains of Cobin" or in the 
valley of the Cincinnati, to indicate that either Remsen, 



HISTORY OF REMSEN xi 

or Steuben, or Trenton in past ages was aught more than 
an abiding place of wild beasts, or perhaps at rare in- 
tervals the hunting-ground of barbarians. 

Originally, it was designed to include the family his- 
tories of the pioneers and early settlers; but, unfor- 
tunately, satisfactory data concerning many of these 
families could not be obtained, despite most strenuous 
efforts in that direction. The obvious lack of senti- 
ment, or even ordinary interest manifested by so many 
regarding the records and traditions of their ancestors, 
are among the difficulties attending an endeavor of this 
nature. Apropos of this view of the subject, a recent 
writer has truthfully said that, "To know nothing of 
our ancestry or whence we came, to have no reverence 
for the precious memories of the past, is to ignore the 
elements and influences that have made us what we 
are: and who so dead to sympathy and affection, to 
kindred and country, that would not preserve the 
record of his ancestors, the place of his birth, the home 
of his childhood and the sacred spot where repose the 
loved and lost ones of each." 

Concerning many of the early settlers I have been 
unable to obtain any data whatever, and of others 
nothing more than the family name, or perhaps an im- 
perfect record of their ancestry or posterity. However, 
such of these facts as could be gathered are presented, 
trivial as they may seem and unsatisfying as they are, 
with the hope that the future student of family history 
may derive help from the record, and perhaps be en- 
abled to supply deficiencies to his own satisfaction, if 
not to the interest and enlightenment of others. 

A large proportion of these early settlers were Welsh, 
as is shown in the following pages. Now in all the realm 
of genealogical research there will be found scarcely 
anything more perplexing and discouraging than an 



xii HISTORY OF REMSEN 

attempt to follow the lines of a Welsh family. There 
seems to have been a lack of variety in names to bestow 
on the children of Wales, which has resulted in an in- 
terminable array of identical names, making the task 
of locating and identifying branches of families and 
compiling their records, a most intricate and well-nigh 
hopeless undertaking. Furthermore, the custom of 
giving to children the Christian name of the father for 
their surname, has more or less prevailed with them for 
centuries; and this practice it is found was not always 
followed uniformly regarding the children of the same 
family, for some were given, or would assume, the 
father's Christian name for their surname, while broth- 
ers and sisters would retain the father's surname for 
their own. Thus, in the chapter on "Family History 
and Biography," it is shown that among the early Welsh 
settlers was one John Parry; and a son of his, who set- 
tled here a year or two prior to the father, was called 
William P. Jones — presumably, William Parry Jones 
— taking "Jones" from his father's first name, John. 
Another son of Mr. Parry was called Ellis John-Parry, 
and a son of the latter was known as William Ellis. 

In Wales and in localities in this country where there 
are many Welsh people in one community, the multi- 
plicity of identical names often necessitates an added 
name, or distinctive appellation. Sometimes this may 
be the name of the parish in Wales in which they live 
or whence they came; or the name of a village, or set- 
tlement, or farm; or the name of the vocation or trade 
they follow, or their fathers had followed before them; 
the color of the house in which they live, or the material 
of which the house is built. Sometimes it has occurred 
that an episode in the life of a man has furnished him 
with an added name, which was lasting and borne by 
his children. In many cases these added names are 



HISTORY OF REMSEN xiii 

used to the exclusion of the proper name, until the 
family is better known by the former than by the latter. 
Still, the appellation, however unpoetic or common- 
place, in no sense implies disesteem. 

The language of Wales in print, with its many con- 
sonants and double consonants, has drawn from the 
wag many a quip; but some one has said that "Welsh, 
like Wagner music, is better than it looks." So it may 
be added for the benefit of those who are unfamiliar 
with the language, that the Welsh appellations it has 
been found necessary to use herein to distinguish fam- 
ilies and individuals, are really "better than they look." 

The civil lists and other matters of public record have 
been omitted, as they are already embodied in the 
several published histories of Oneida county, and there- 
fore easily accessible to the inquirer; the space these 
subjects would have occupied being devoted to material 
not so fully given in those works — facts pertaining to 
the people, whence they came, where they located, 
their customs, achievements and everyday life. 



CONTENTS 

INTRODUCTORY 

EXPLAINING ARRANGEMENT 

Scope of the Work ix 

Original Design xi 

Difficulties of Welsh Nomenclature xii 

Omission of Public Documents xiii 

CHAPTER I 

A GENERAL DESCRIPTION 

First Settlers I 

State Legislation 2 

Remsen Organized.. 2 

Primitive Conditions 2 

Early Roads 3 

Topography 6 

Geology and Soil 8 

CHAPTER n 

SETTLEMENT AND GROWTH 

Samuel Sizer 10 

Arrival of Baron Steuben ii 

Early Land Purchases 12 

Locations of Settlers 13 

First Welsh Emigrants 14 

Descriptive View of Village 30 

Village Charter Obtained 35 

Division of the Township 37 



xvi HISTORY OF REMSEN 

CHAPTER III 

PIONEER CONDITIONS 

Small Farms the Rule 46 

Log Cabins 47 

The Fire-place 47 

The Tallow-dip 48 

Methods of Computing Time 49 

Social Pleasures 52 

Regarding Agriculture 54 

Rise of Dairying 54 

Primitive Implements 56 

CHAPTER IV 

LAND GRANTS AND TITLES 

The Iroquois Domain 59 

Conflicting Claims 59 

Civil Divisions Subject to 62 

Oneida County Erected 62 

Various Land Patents 62 

Sharp Practices 63 

Lincklaen's Journal 65 



CHAPTER V 

HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION 

Waterways 68 

Methods of Transportation 68 

Early Highways 69 

First Bridges 72 

Mail Routes 74 

Stage-coaches 75 

Canals 7^ 

Railroads 7^ 



HISTORY OF REMSEN xvii 

CHAPTER VI 

INNS AND TAVERNS 

Numerous and Frequent 82 

The First Opened 82 

Early Heavy Travel 83 

Type of Early Landlord 84 

CHAPTER Vn 

INDUSTRIES 

Every Household a Workshop 90 

Hand-spinning and Weaving 90 

Alanufacture of Potash 91 

Lime Kilns 93 

First Grist-mills and Saw-mills 94 

Distilleries 98 

Tanneries loi 



CHAPTER VHI 

RELIGION AND CHURCH SOCIETIES 

Early Missionaries 109 

Taylor's Journal no 

First Church Society Organized no 

First Welsh Society Formed 119 

Temperance Cause 158 

Burial Grounds 161 



CHAPTER IX 

SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS 

First School in Remsen Township 165 

Remsen Academy 169 

Early School Teachers 171 



iviii HISTORY OF REMSEN 

CHAFrER X 

INCIDENTS AND REMINISCENCES 

Indians 175 

Reminiscences of Steuben Township 181 

Professional Men 187 

The Singing Master 205 

The Militia 209 

Cold Summer 211 

Murders and Ghosts 214 

Currency Scarcity 216 

Mine Prospectors 218 

Early Sports 220 

The Gunpowder Plot 222 

Fires and Firemen 223 

Casualties 224 

Revolutionary Pensioners 226 

CHAPTER XI 

FAMILY HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY 

Pioneers and Others 232 



CHAPTER I 

A GENERAL DESCRIPTION 

The first settler in Remsen township was Barnabas 
Mitchell, who came from Meriden, Conn., in 1792, and 
began a clearing on the farm which subsequently for 
many years was in the possession of his son, and is now 
known as the "Milo Mitchell place." He was soon 
followed by others, and within two years Nathaniel 
Rockwood, John Bonner, Perez Farr, Bettis Le Clerc, 
Jonah Dayton, John Kent and Shubael Cross had joined 
the settlement, nearly all of whom were from New Eng- 
land. In September, 1795, five families from Wales 
also located in the vicinity, being the first of their na- 
tionality to stake their future prosperity in these town- 
ships against what the forest wilderness might have in 
store for them and theirs. From this on the settlement 
was gradually increased by other arrivals, until by the 
fall of 1801 the population numbered about sixty fami- 
lies, or nearly three hundred souls. 

Thus two distinct strains made up our pioneer ele- 
ment, each of which was tinged with its own peculiari- 
ties of thought, temperament, and methods of religious 
observance. In common, however, they brought to the 
hard task of wresting from the primeval wilderness a 
home for themselves and loved ones many inherent 
qualities of heart and mind — courage, self-reliance, 
steadfastness of purpose, frugality, industry — which 
their descendants may well contemplate with pride and 
affectionate admiration. 

The latter part of the eighteenth century and the 



2 HISTORY OF RKMSEN 

early part of the nineteenth, comprised largely what 
appropriately may be termed the "Formative Period" 
regarding legislation for the extension and adjustment 
of civil divisions in the newly occupied portions of our 
state; for during those years the wise men at Albany, 
endowed with liberal discretion and urged by the vast 
landed interests of the day, were busy cutting the broad 
domain of our commonwealth into squares, strips and 
gores, to form new counties and townships, and in urg- 
ing the construction of highways to further the expan- 
sion of settlements. 

By an act of the legislature passed March 15, 1798, 
forming the new County of Oneida from the County of 
Herkimer, it was also enacted that, "All of the town of 
Norway lying in the said new County of Oneida, shall 
be erected and organized into a new town, to be called 
Remsen." So we find that, unlike most other town- 
ships, Remsen was organized by the legislature without 
petition, action, or movement on the part of its inhab- 
itants to advance such organization. This was only 
six years after Barnabas Mitchell had pitched his tent 
here in the wilderness; and the new township did not 
have enough male inhabitants of legal age entitled to 
citizenship to fill all its offices — had nominations been 
made for all the customary town officers from super- 
visor to fence viewer and hog-reeve — so to the astute 
politician and crafty office-seeker, this anomalous situ- 
ation gave no opportunity to extend the glad hand and 
to pat familiarly on the back any voters except those 
only who were candidates for office. 

Now unless we recall vividly to mind what the condi- 
tions of our country at large were at this period, even 
though but little over a century has since passed into 
history, we can but faintly conceive the conditions of 
pioneer life here. The entire population of the country 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 3 

then was less than that now included in the City of New 
York and its environs. The western part of our state 
was still spoken of as the "far west," while Cleveland 
was on the remote frontier, and Detroit only a military 
post in the wilderness. There was not then, in fact, 
anywhere on the globe, a public conveyance of any kind, 
except stages, that carried goods or passengers from one 
point to another at regular intervals according to an 
advertised schedule. If one had occasion to go from 
one country to another by sea, he went down to the 
nearest port, as did Jonah, when he went to Joppa and 
waited there until "He found a ship going to Tarshish, 
when he paid his fare and went down into it." If one 
did not fird a ship going to the particular city he de- 
sired to visit, he took passage in one going to some 
neighboring port or country, and thence made his way 
as best he could to his destination. 

So little had been done to diversify the occupations 
of mankind that a great majority of our people were 
forced to gain a livelihood by tilling the soil. In the 
older communities, of course, such artisans as the black- 
smith, the wheelwright, the carpenter, the tailor and 
the shoemaker, the butcher and the baker were found 
in every village; but in the newer, most of these, to- 
gether with the doctor — who was also the dentist — and 
the preacher, had to travel from place to place in the 
exercise of their vocations. The farmer's market was 
very limited, and the cost of transporting what he had 
to sell was great. Roads everywhere were bad, for as 
little was known about road making then as about many 
other arts. Indeed the demands for new roads were so 
great that neither the counties nor the states could pro- 
vide money for building them, and keeping them in 
repair, by any system of taxation that the people could 
endure. Accordingly public money began to be used 



4 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

to open new roads in the more sparsely settled regions, 
while those in the older were turned over to corpora- 
tions who improved them and collected toll from those 
who used them. And the rate of toll charged every- 
where was excessive. In New England a road wagon 
drawn by four horses was charged twelve and one-half 
cents for each two miles. In New Jersey one cent per 
mile for every horse was demanded. In Pennsylvania 
and Maryland the rate depended on the width of tires, 
and the number of horses, and varied from two cents to 
sixpence per horse for every two miles. In Virginia the 
rate was twenty-five cents for twelve miles. 

Necessarily the cost of transportation was every- 
where well nigh prohibitive, the average the country 
through being ten dollars per ton per hundred miles. 
To send a barrel of flour from Buffalo to Montreal cost 
one dollar and fifty cents. To move a bushel of salt 
three hundred miles cost two dollars and a half, and five 
dollars to send a hundred weight of sugar the same dis- 
tance. All articles that could not stand this rate were 
shut out of market; and among these were grain and 
flour, which could not bear transportation more than 
one hundred and fifty miles, unless they could be sent 
along some all-water route. 

Again, in the first decade of the nineteenth century 
farmers tilled their land with implements that were little 
better than those used by the Greeks and Romans, or 
even by the Egyptians, Assyrians and Chaldeans in far 
earlier times. The wooden plow, perhaps rudely im- 
proved by an iron share, was everywhere used. Wheat, 
oats and rye were harvested with a sickle, and threshed 
with flails, or tramped out by horses or cattle. Not 
one of the many labor-saving machines with which far- 
mers are now so familiar had then been invented or 
thought of. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN S 

Labor was cheap, and those who worked for wages 
were forced to compete with laborers whose condition 
was little better than that of slaves; for many people in 
foreign countries sold their services for a term of years 
to ship captains to obtain passage to this country. 
This was true, not only of men, but the services of their 
wives and children on arrival here were sold at auction 
to such as would buy, the highest bidder being he who 
would pay the captain the sum he demanded — usually 
a little more than one hundred dollars — in return for 
the labor of the poor immigrant for the shortest term. 
This term was commonly from three to eight years for 
a man or woman, and somewhat longer for a child. At 
the auctions where these people were thus sold into 
bondage, wives were separated from husbands and chil- 
dren from their parents, as ruthlessly as colored slaves 
were separated in the south. During the term agreed 
upon the "redemptioner," as he was called, was to be 
fed and clothed, but was to receive no other compensa- 
tion until his term of service was ended, when he was to 
have a suit of new clothes, a grubbing hoe, a weeding 
hoe, and an axe, to help him to begin life on his own 
account. The condition of those who were forced to 
compete with labor of this kind was miserable enough. 
Farm laborers were fed and lodged by their employers, 
and paid but little more in cash than would serve to 
clothe them. Hod carriers, mortar mixers, diggers and 
choppers labored from sunrise to sunset. Wages in 
New York and Albany were forty cents per day. In 
Baltimore, men thought themselves fortunate to get 
employment at eighteen pence a day, and throughout 
Maryland wages averaged about six dollars a month. 
The average wage rate, the country over, was not 
above sixty-five dollars a year, including food and 
lodging. 



6 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Such were the general conditions confronting the 
Remsen pioneers. And now in a brief glance at the 
diversities Nature afforded them in their new home, we 
hope we shall not unduly impose on the reader's pa- 
tience if we rehearse some trite facts concerning the 
topography of the state at large. As is well known, the 
principal part of New York is included in the Appala- 
chian system; the mountains appearing to be only par- 
tially interrupted by the valleys of the rivers, or de- 
pressed by the basins of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, 
and by the long narrow valley which contains Hudson 
river and Lake Champlain. The valleys of Lake On- 
tario and the Hudson are connected by that of the 
Mohawk river and Oneida Lake, and together separate 
the mountain system into three great divisions. The 
first and largest of these lies in the space south of the 
Mohawk river and Ontario valley, between Hudson 
river and Lake Erie; the second is north of the Mohawk, 
bptwppn T.akp Champlain and thp past.prn end of Lake 
Ontario; and the third comprises a part of the range 
east of the Hudson. 

These divisions are sub-divided by many chains and 
ranges. The second division is traversed in a northeast 
direction by six principal ridges, and some subordinate 
ones, which collectively have been called the Sacandaga 
mountains, and have a length northeast and southwest 
of one hundred and forty miles, with an extreme breadth 
of about one hundred and twenty-five miles. However, 
these dimensions vary greatly, as at the north line of the 
state the breadth is not twenty miles, while at latitude 
40° 30' it exceeds one hundred. The chains are not con- 
tinuous, but are made up of detached links, in parallel 
lines and varying elevation, with summits of diversified 
forms; while scattered over the gi'eat area are many hills 
not reducible to any range — solitary, or in detached 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 7 

groups — some vieing in elevation with the determinate 
ridges, others simply low masses of rocks in various 
forms. 

In two of these subordinate ridges we have an espe- 
cial interest. The first of these, called the Highlands 
of Black river, reaches from the source of Black creek, 
a tributary of West Canada creek, west and northwest 
about sixty miles, and thus includes the region of Rem- 
sen and vicinity. Starr's Hill, about four miles west of 
Remsen village, represents its greatest altitude, about 
eighteen hundred feet, and the whole area varies in ele- 
vation from that down to about twelve hundred feet, 
having frequtnt rolling surfaces several miles in width. 
West Canada creek descends its southern slope, while 
Mohawk river. Fish creek, Salmon river, and Sandy and 
Deer creeks rise in it. 

The second subordinate ridge is known as Hassen- 
cleaver mountain, and extends from Herkimer county 
for about twenty miles into Oneida county, occupying 
the space between the Highlands and Mohawk river. 
It is about nine miles broad at its base, having an alti- 
tude varying from eight hundred to twelve hundred 
feet. This is the blue ridge marking the southern hori- 
zon, so pleasingly conspicuous from many parts of these 
townships. Locally it is called the Big Hill, and to the 
drivers of early stage coaches, and the carriers of mer- 
chandise from the Mohawk to the north country, before 
the construction of the plank road, the "Big Hill" was 
all that its name implies. Many interesting accounts 
of the difficulties attending its ascent in these times are 
handed down. Moreover, this elevation in reality was 
the great obstacle to the flow in this direction of the 
stream of immigration, which, when it had filled the 
valleys, like water ready to burst its barriers, followed 
the lines of least resistance. 



8 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

It is also an interesting fact that the fifth range in the 
mountain belt of the great wilderness of northern New 
York is the Adirondack chain proper, for this name was 
originally given to it by Professor Emmons, while mak- 
ing his geological survey of this region; but which now 
by common consent is applied to the whole mountain 
region of the northern wilderness. Hence on the later 
maps, these townships are designated as occupying a 
position on the "foot-hills," or "spurs," of the Adiron- 
dacks. 

From Black river valley to the valley of Oriskany 
creek, geologists inform us, there are outcrops of nearly 
every formation. Here, and south of Remsen, is found 
the great limestone system known as the Trenton For- 
mation, with its wonderful fossil remains, which re- 
ceives its name from its fine development in this locality. 
This bed, upon which the southern part of the township 
of Remsen and the greater portion of Trenton township 
rests, is excellent for building purposes, and when burn- 
ed makes a prime cement. 

In the northern section, primitive rock boulders 
abound, a species of granite. Everywhere indications 
of diluvial action are prominent, in the accumulations 
of gravel, sand, pebbles and boulders scattered over the 
surface. It is said that the parent bed of some of the 
latter can not be nearer than the extreme north of the 
continent. Iron ore has been found in the northeast 
section of Remsen township, as originally formed; and 
traces of "Fool's Gold" in the vicinity of Black river 
has at intervals inspired in some the delusive hope that 
a vein of the more precious metal might be found. 

The soil in general differs but little from that of other 
high sections of the county, and the land is better adapt- 
ed for gi'azing than for agriculture, though it is product- 
ive in coarse grains. The principal productions prior 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 9 

to 1812 were barley, peas, beans, oats, hay, flax and 
potatoes ; and the first settlers found the soil so rich that 
they had little need for fertilizers. This was especially 
true of the flat or bottom lands. William Piatt, who 
owned the John Humphreys' farm, south of the village, 
for years after settlement hauled stable refuse to the 
creek and dumped it into the stream. Throughout this 
section, two crops of potatoes were sometimes raised in 
a season. Those of the second crop were said to be as 
large as those of the first, though they were thought to 
be less dry and of inferior flavor. 

Originally the townships were heavily timbered with 
maple, beech, birch, elm, ash, spruce and hemlock. 



CHAPTER II 

SETTLEMENT AND GROWTH 

We have named a few of the pioneer settlers of Rem- 
sen township, the earliest of whom located here in 1792; 
but in the more extended area considered in these pages, 
covering portions of the adjoining townships, the first 
to brave the dangers and hardships of the entire region 
as a dweller within its lonely precincts was Samuel 
Sizer, a ship carpenter from New York city, who came 
here in 1789. However, he came under far different 
conditions from those surrounding any other settler, for 
he was the hired agent or superintendent of the landed 
proprietor, Baron Steuben; and consequently enjoyed 
advantages unknown to the ordinary pioneer in the un- 
broken and scarcely explored wilderness of these rugged 
hill-townships. Under the patronage of the generous 
Baron, he was enabled to make extended preparations 
beforehand in the way of procuring live-stock, imple- 
ments and stores, and also had several laborers to aid 
him in the pioneer work. He made a clearing and lived 
for some years in Steuben, on the farm later owned by 
Josiah Owen. 

Most of those who ventured to locate here brought 
little or nothing with them, except the might of their 
strong arms and an inflexible determination to meet all 
exigencies, however great, in preparing for themselves 
and families "an habitation in the wilderness;" where 
the cheapness of land and the durability of the Baron's 
leases, promised new advantages and animated them 
with the hope of securing a more independent livelihood 



HISTORY OF REMSEN ii 

for themselves and added opportunities for their pos- 
terity. 

It required peculiar qualities to make a good pioneer. 
We who enjoy what an heroic ancestry won for us by 
sufferings and sacrifices, know little, and think less, of 
the cost at which all these things were secured. Silently 
they went out into the wilderness, resolved to reduce 
Nature herself to their far-reaching purposes. But com- 
prehensive as was their prevision, they could not take 
in the half of the grand picture they were beginning and 
which was so soon to unroll like a panorama before the 
gaze of the world. The greater share of founding and 
building this naJon was done in silence and solitude; 
by self-sacrifices that were unknown to the outside 
world ; and with patient and repeated efforts, where fre- 
quently there was faint token of final success. 

A year or two after the coming of Mr. Sizer, the 
Baron moved upon his patent, where near its center 
some sixty acres of land had been cleared — the section 
still known as "Sixty Acres" — and a log house built 
for him; and here, in this wild region, with a few male 
servants about him, he made his home. Following his 
arrival came several who had borne arms under him, 
some of whom became members of his household. 

Before the spring of 1792, fifteen families had settled 
in Steuben, mostly about the Corners, and in the vicin- 
ity of Sixty Acres. The first to establish a residence at 
the former was Stephen Brooks, Sr., who came from 
Middletown, Conn., in 1790 or '91, and located on a 
farm which during later years was occupied in part by 
his grandson, John W. Brooks. It is said of Mr. 
Brooks that after he had become comfortably settled in 
his new home, he became greatly alarmed over a report 
that a band of hostile Indians from Canada was about 
to make a raid through this region, and lest his family 



12 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

should come to harm he removed with them to New 
Haven, Conn.; though he subsequently returned to 
Steuben and spent the remainder of his life here. His 
son, Stephen, Jr., was the first male white child born in 
the township, the date of his birth being in 1791 or '92. 
During the sojourn of the family at New Haven, his son 
Charles was born, who became a well-known Methodist 
preacher of the primitive type. 

Aaron Francis purchased "All that certain Lot or 
Parcel of Land, being part of the township of Steuben, 
in the County of Herkimer, in the State of New York, 
and known and distinguished in the division of said 
Township of Steuben as Lots No. 140 and 141 of the 
Tract granted to Peter Service and others." The orig- 
inal deed from which we quote, was dated September 
15, 1791, and after describing the boundaries of these 
lots adds: "As the needle pointed in the year 1769," 
which would indicate that a survey of the Service Patent 
was made that year. The consideration stipulated was 
"eighty pounds, two shillings and sixpence, lawful 
money of New York." Mr. Francis made a clearing 
where the house of R. Fremont Jones now stands; and 
in 1801 he sold fifty acres to Thomas CufRn, which in- 
cluded the clearing where a log house was built. It is 
also recorded that "Aaron Francis, Yeoman, and Annor 
his wife, sold to William C. Jones, Carpenter, a part of 
Lot 140," the same year. This is the place owned by 
the late Lewis Everett; and Francis sold, in September 
of that year, to Morris Ellis, forty acres off of Lot 140. 
A part of this the latter sold to the Capel Isaf society, 
for a church and burial-lot. Mr. Francis left after a res- 
idence here of about ten years. Ebenezer Weeks, from 
Brooklyn, Conn., settled just south of Ty Coch corner 
in 1791. 

In 1792, Capt. David Starr, from Middletown, Conn., 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 13 

purchased a farm from Baron Steuben, and settled on 
"Starr's Hill," And this year came also Noadiah, Fair- 
child, Joel and Samuel Hubbard, from Middletown, 
who located in the vicinity of Captain Starr's purchase. 
Capt. Simeon Fuller came also in 1792; and Capt. Sim- 
eon Woodruff settled on a farm adjacent to Captain 
Fuller's about the same time. Jotham Mitchell, who 
settled on the comer south of the location selected by 
Samuel Sizer, Salmon Ward, Bela Hubbard and David 
Miller, were all here as early as 1792, as also were John 
Piatt, Sr,, and his sons William, Obadiah, Richard and 
John, originally from Huntington, L. I., but directly 
from Fredericksburgh, Duchess County. 

Moses Adams, the first school-master, came from 
New Marlboro, Mass., in 1793. He settled on the farm 
afterward owned by Allen Clark, where he remained 
only a year, when he removed to a farm east of the Cor- 
ners, and subsequently lived in other localities in that 
vicinity. He served in the war of 1812. 

In 1794 Capt. Joseph Ingham settled on Starr's Hill, 
and during this year also, Daniel Barnes, from Middle- 
town, took up fifty acres near by, built a house and made 
improvements. He then went back to Connecticut 
after his family, and returned with them in the spring 
of 1795. He had belonged to the Connecticut militia, 
and was called out at the time of Burgoyne's surrender, 
though the command he was with arrived on the field 
after the General had capitulated. He was the father 
of the late Mrs. Joel Porter, of Steuben. Other early 
settlers from Connecticut were Elisha Crowell, and Dr. 
Earl Bill, the first physician of the township. Amos 
and Lemuel Hough were here before 1794. John Phil- 
lips, father of Thompson and Champion Phillips and of 
the late Mrs. Samuel Dustin, of Remsen, was an early 
settler at Steuben Corners. John Merrick was one of 



14 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

the first to locate on what was called Beaver Meadow, 
near the Corners. Among others who settled early at 
Steuben Corners was Stephen Adsit, and two brothers 
named Clark; Judge Thomas Hamilton was an early 
and prominent resident there; and also Colonel Davis, 
a revolutionary officer, who in 1832 or '33 removed with 
his sons to Michigan ; and Silas Austin was an early set- 
tler in the township. 

In 1795 the first Welsh emigrants arrived, precursors 
of the great number of that nationality who in the suc- 
ceeding forty years settled here, until they became the 
predominant factor in the development of Steuben and 
neighboring parts of the townships of Remsen and 
Trenton. As early as 1802, Rev. John Taylor, who vis- 
ited here at that time, says "one-third of the inhabitants 
of Steuben are Welsh." 

Prior to the revolution the current of emigration to 
America was slow, as compared with the period immed- 
iately succeeding the war, when, soon after peace was 
restored, it became the principal objective point for 
emigration from continental Europe and the British 
Isles, this holding especially true of Wales. There 
every seacoast town and remote mountain parish fur- 
nished its quota of earnest men, who were actuated by 
no adventurous spirit, but were prompted solely by the 
desire to improve and develop their station beyond that 
possible for them to attain at home. There for genera- 
tions the people had toiled and plodded incessantly, 
with earnest intent and painstaking endeavor, only in 
the end to realize that their condition was no. better 
than had been that of the fathers who rested in the 
parish church-yard; for the majority of the peasantry 
of Wales at this time were in a condition of extreme 
poverty, and well-nigh utter hopelessness. 

So it was to improve their distressful situation that 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 15 

these, and many others living under like conditions in 
the old world, were willing to encounter the dangers of 
a voyage hither, which in those days were great, and 
some were willing even to suffer the indignity of being 
sold into temporary servitude to repay their passage 
money and other advances. A few who had been thus in- 
dentured found their way later to this locality, where in 
time they acquired a competency and were among the 
most respected of the community. Harsh and disa- 
greeable as this system may appear in the present age, 
it gave to our country a great number of energetic and 
thrifty settlers, who by reason of their poverty, could 
not otherwise have come to America. At the end of 
their term of service these voluntary "redemptioners" 
became merged into the mass of population, suffering 
no lingering taint of menial servitude. 

The incoming of Welsh settlers to this locality con- 
tinued in a moderately increasing volume for about 
forty years, when the tide of this emigration turned to 
the western counties of the state, and to Ohio and Wis- 
consin, also taking with it many families that had pre- 
viously located here. Respecting this subject of Welsh 
emigration, we take the liberty of quoting the following 
paragraph from "The Pioneers of Utica," by the late 
Dr. M. M. Bagg: 

"A few individuals of the Welsh race have been al- 
ready spoken of as settled in Utica ere 1801; these were 
Joseph Harris (1792), Thomas and Simeon Jones (1794), 
Richard Francis (1798), John Adams, John Nicholas, 
John Roberts, and Simeon Johns (1800). But they 
were now coming in numbers, and formed the only con- 
siderable foreign immigration to Oneida county, which 
occurred at the beginning of the century. In a pam- 
phlet entitled, 'Settlement and Progress of the Welsh in 
Utica and Vicinity,' which was published in 1860 by 
Rev. Llewellyn Howell, formerly a minister of Utica, 



i6 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

it is stated that in September, 1795, twelve Welsh fam- 
ilies landed in New York, of whom five made their way 
up the Mohawk and settled at Steuben. These were 
followed the next year by about one hundred, chiefly 
from South Wales. They were poor but industrious, 
and were soon comfortably situated. Of these it is 
probable that only a small part remained in Utica. The 
Welsh are known to be extremely clannish in their 
habits, as well as religious in their instincts, and wedded 
to the forms of worship in which they were reared. It 
was natural, therefore, that the new comers should fol- 
low to Steuben those who had preceded them, where, 
among their fellows of kindred speech and habits, they 
would the sooner enjoy those religious privileges so dear 
to the national heart. According to the opinion of a 
few of the older residents of Utica, it was through the 
agency of Colonel Walker that individuals of this people 
were first led to make their homes in this region. Ap- 
preciating their industry, thrift and the many moral 
virtues of this class of settlers, he persuaded them to 
come and occupy his extensive wild lands in Steuben 
and vicinity. Those who were farmers disposed them- 
selves over the rich hillsides of Steuben, Remsen and 
Trenton, while those who had trades lingered in the 
villages, and were universally credited with being the 
best mechanics, especially builders, of the time. Nor 
could these latter deny themselves the enjoyment of 
their cherished institutions, and the ministry of the 
pastors who accompanied them." 

"The typical Welshman," says one, "is not only 
brave, but obstinate in proportion to his bravery;" an 
assertion that we believe is amply supported by the his- 
tory of the race. The Welsh have ever proved invalu- 
able as pioneers, for they are a race whose courage and 
determination rise in proportion to the difficulties they 
encounter. For generations they had inured them- 
selves to the hardships and privations of a rugged coun- 
try, where to sustain life they found it necessary to labor 
against the most adverse circumstances. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 17 

The five Welsh families mentioned by Dr. Bagg as 
having "made their way up the Mohawk and settled in 
Steuben," were those of Griffith Rowland, William Wil- 
liams, Evan Davies, Hugh Roberts and Owen Griffiths. 
A son of the latter, Griffith 0. Griffiths, was the first 
Welsh child born in Oneida county, and some have con- 
•tended the first in the state west of the Hudson river. 
In 1798 these were followed by several more from Wales, 
among whom with their families were Deacon William 
C. Jones, William P. Jones, Evan Griffiths and Robert 
Griffiths. A year or two later came John Parry, his son 
Ellis, his son-in-law, oohn Evans (Boon), and Evan 
Thomas, all of whom settled for a time, at least, west of 
Ty Coch Corners; also came Hugh Griffiths and David 
Jones, the latter of whom was the father of the late Mrs. 
John Pugh, of Remsen, and of Mrs. Edward Williams 
of Trenton. He selected a location on what was later 
known as the Billings Lot, a little more than half way 
between the village and Capel Ucha, his house stand- 
ing sixty rods or more north of the highway. 

Among those who came from Wales in 1801, were 
Morris Ellis; Hugh Jones and his sons Richard H. and 
John H., who purchased and settled on the Capt. Sim- 
eon Woodruff place, the latter having died. Daniel 
Thomas settled near Sixty Acres in 1806, and Jabez 
Burchard came with his family from New England to 
that locality the same year. Joel, Chester and Samuel 
Porter came in 1808, during which year there was an- 
other large immigration of families from Wales, many 
of whom located in Remsen township and in the north- 
ern part of the Township of Trenton. 

As we have stated, Barnabas Mitchell is conceded to 
have been the pioneer settler of Remsen township, locat- 
ing here in 1792. His daughter Polly (Mrs. Van Slyke) 
was the first white child born here. Capt. Shubael 



1 8 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Cross came from Massachusetts in March, 1794, and 
built the first saw-mill and grist-mill at Bard well. His 
death, in 1795, is said by some to have been the first 
among the settlers in Remsen, though it is also claimed 
that the first death was that of Capt. Eleazar Peck, 
from Providence, R. L Amos Bull settled upon and 
cleared the land long known as "Bull's Commons" and 
later as the "Camp Farm," which he finally left in dis- 
gust, it is said, believing the place not worth fencing 
when cleared. About this time came Ephraim Hollis- 
ter, father-in-law of the late Judge Storrs, of Trenton, 
and who was elected supervisor at the first town meet- 
ing, in 1798. He subsequently removed to Trenton, 
where he died. In 1796 Ebenezer King purchased three 
hundred and thirty -six acres of land northeasterly of the 
village, on what was afterward known as the State road. 
His daughter is said to have been the first woman mar- 
ried here, though this distinction is claimed by Brough- 
ton W. Green for a daughter of Capt. John Kent. Sam- 
uel Howe, who settled here before 1796, was the first 
justice of the peace, and it was at his log house, just 
north of the Clinton R. Thomas residence at Bard well, 
that the first town meeting was held. 

At Fairchild, so called, there settled Ezekiel and Agur 
Fairchild, from Connecticut, the former the first school- 
master in the township of Remsen; Caleb Nichols; Jesse 
Morgan; Gilbert Cole; Gershom Hinkley, a land sur- 
veyor and first resident land-agent for Henry Remsen, 
proprietor of the Remsenburgh Patent, and after whom 
the township and village are named. Among other 
early settlers were Jonah Dayton; Solomon Gillette; 
Ebenezer Dodd ; Philip Scott, who lived on the Richard 
Morgan place, between Fairchild and Bardwell, was the 
first physician, and for several years after the organiza- 
tion of the township officiated as town clerk; Rev. Ed- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 19 

mund Tefift, from Rhode Island, said to have been the 
first resident minister; James Franklin; Joshua Borden; 
Perez Farr, who lived on the road from Fairchild to 
Ninety Six; Harry Franklin, who married a daughter of 
Perez Farr; and John Bonner, a native of England, who 
moved here from Vermont and took up the lot after- 
ward owned and occupied by the late Jenkin Jones, half 
a mile or more east of Remsen village, and who subse- 
quently went west to make his home with his son, and 
died there. Jeremiah, another son of John Bonner, re- 
mained here. He was i. stalwart man, considerably 
over six feet in stature, generous, good natured, and a 
noted wood-chopper; and as those were days wherein a 
man was "famous according as he had lifted up axes 
upon the thick trees," he was deservedly popular. 

Daniel Dayton lived in a log house near the Bardwell 
mill, and when very old removed to Cortland, N. Y. 
There came here with him, his uncle, Solomon Dayton, 
his cousin Horace, and Daniel Dayton, Jr. Shubael 
Foster settled near the Daytons. He was a brother of 
"Nat" Foster, the famous Adirondack hunter and trap- 
per of early days. Peter Slawson settled on Lot 1 of 
the Service Patent, and Stephen Slawson on Lot 14, 
about the same time. Green White, another noted 
trapper, hunter, and "Indian slayer" as he was called, 
was an early settler at Bardwell, as were also Asa Weeks 
and Elisha Larabee. Enoch Hall, a revolutionary sol- 
dier, with his sons James and Raymond, were early set- 
tlers, their log house being located on the Fairchild and 
Bardwell road facing that which leads to the Bardwell 
mill. Consider Bardwell, father of David and Elias 
Bardwell, and step-father of Judson Witherell, Sr., set- 
tled on the west side of the stream at Bardwell, north of 
the road that leads to the mill. All of th^e were located 
here prior to the year 1800. 



20 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

In consequence of the advantage of a water-power at 
Bard well which is supplied by Baker, Red, and Beaver 
brooks and by numerous springs, some of the early set- 
tlers there thought they foresaw in that locality the 
future "hub" of Remsen township. But many things 
conspired to thwart the realization of this dream. The 
pioneer miller, Shubael Cross, died shortly after build- 
ing his mills. Succeeding him was Bailey Burritt, 
whence for many years the settlement was known as 
"Burritt's Mills." In 1804 he acquired by lease, or 
purchase on contract, the mill-seat including eight or 
ten acres on the northwest corner of Lot 26. He con- 
ducted the mills until November 25, 1809, when "his 
goods and chatties, lands and tenements" were sold by 
the sheriff to satisfy the claims of the heirs of Henry 
Remsen. There was no highway near this section that 
ever became a road for general travel, and the land was 
not of a character to induce settlement; for notwith- 
standing the fact that the soil is fairly good, innumera- 
ble boulders are scattered over its surface, which, it is 
said, are importations of a pre-historic period, brought 
by icebergs from a distant northern zone. There were 
no customs-officers in those days, so these came in free 
of duty, and were plentifully scattered about the sec- 
tions of Bardwell and Ninety Six. 

Steuben Corners, Sixty Acres, Fau'child and Bard- 
well were settlements of some character when Remsen 
village could boast of but three log dwellings, one at 
either end and the other near the center of the present 
corporate limits. Each stood in a small clearing, and 
were separated along the wilderness road by intervals 
of at least a quarter of a mile. There was also a primi- 
tive saw-mill at the falls that produced principally heavy 
planks for flooring, also used for siding for buildings after 
framed structures began to be erected. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 21 

The first settler within the confines of the present vil- 
lage was Peter A. Becker, who took up one hundred and 
ten acres of land and built a log inn or tavern at the 
south line of the present village limits. As but few 
deeds for lots on the Service Patent were given before 
the survey made by Calvin Guiteau, in 1795, title to 
this property was not passed to Becker until July 18, 
1796, though he had settled upon it some time prior to 
that date. On November 1 of that year he transferred 
the same to Deacon William Piatt. The inn soon after 
was set on fire and destroyed. 

There was a house, built partly of logs and partly of 
planks, on the site of the Zalmon D. Root house, after- 
ward known as the James Mitchell place, latterly owned 
by Edward E. Samuel. This house was built in 1795 
by James Smith, brother of the late Bohan Smith, and 
as early as 1797 was conducted as a public house by 
Smith and his son Joab. The latter died at Sacket 
Harbor, during the war of 1812. 

About midway between the north and south limits of 
the village, Joseph Brownell bought a hundred-acre lot 
and began a clearing. He soon after sold to Oliver 
Smith, who built an inn on the site of the Colonel Beech- 
er residence. Brownell removed to Steuben township, 
locating on the road leading from Trenton to Steuben 
Corners. 

After the death of Baron Steuben, several settlers on 
his patent removed to the location of the village, in 
every instance intelligent, capable men and good citi- 
zens. William Piatt was among these, a man of activity 
and enterprise, who within a few years after coming 
here remodeled the saw-mill, built a grist-mill, and also 
a blacksmith shop on the turnpike opposite his dwelling. 
In 1803 there came from the same locality Broughton 
White and Lemuel Hough, who built an ashery that 



22 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

year, while Broughton White opened a store, where he 
kept a few articles to exchange for ashes, gradually in- 
creasing his stock until he had a fair assortment of gen- 
eral merchandise. In the course of a few years he was 
succeeded in the store by Jacob Betticher, better known 
as "Jake," who, following the custom of the times, sold 
grog as well as groceries over his counter, and with some 
of the farmers of the surrounding country it became a 
popular stopping-place when they came to the mill. 

The settlement was small, consisting of little beside 
the Piatt grist-mill and saw-mill, the gambrel-roof house 
now owned by John Humphreys, which Piatt built in 
1804, a small framed house also built by him, standing 
south of his home and about opposite that long owned 
by Rowland Anthony, and the blacksmith shop before 
mentioned. On the road leading to Prospect at this 
point, about twenty-five rods east of the J. G. Jones 
stone house, Morris Jones, father of the late Robert M. 
Jones and father-in-law of the late John G. Jones, made 
a small clearing and built a log house ; and Robert Jones, 
father of the late Moses Jones, had made a slashing in 
the woods and put up a log house north of the road, on 
the brow of the hill overlooking the settlement. These 
men came here with their families in 1801, from Wales. 
This highway had not then been put through to Pros- 
pect, and was but a rough forest road leading only to 
the two clearings we have mentioned. The store of 
Betticher was on the north corner of the main road and 
that leading to Steuben, where afterwards was the resi- 
dence of Isaac W. Roberts, and now the site of the 
Dynes Hotel. White & Hough's ashery was on the 
Steuben road, not far from Betticher's store; and one or 
two other rude houses, used as tenements by the mill- 
men, the blacksmith, and the potash boiler, were south 
of the Steuben road corner. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 23 

This group was not large enough nor of sufficient im- 
portance at that time, it seems, to be honored with a 
name; so to the patrons of the settlement for miles 
around it was known simply as "Jake's," and long after 
it had been officially endowed with a name by the estab- 
lishment of a postoffice, "Jake's" and "Remsen" were 
interchangeable terms. The Welsh settlers gave to "a" 
in the name "Jake" the shorter sound, which made their 
pronunciation of it not unlike the English diminutive 
"Jack." Since in their language there is no special ter- 
mination of words to denote the possessive case, such as 
is given in the English by adding "s" to possessive 
nouns not ending with that letter, it commonly followed 
that in their construction of English sentences this ter- 
mination was dropped. If they used the phrase: "I am 
going to Jake's," in their vernacular tongue it was "Yr 
wyf yn mynd i Jack." And in making use of the same 
sentence in English, they never added the "s" nor broad- 
ened the "a", so to them "Jake's" was "Jack" in both 
languages; and Remsen continued to be "Jack" with 
many of the Welsh people on the surrounding hills long 
years after Jacob Betticher had passed away and was 
by them forgotten. 

In those days the Cincinnati was a far more preten- 
tious stream than at the present time. Nearly the 
whole area drained by it was forest, wherein the springs 
and swamps never dried. A heavy woodland under- 
growth fringed its dark banks, between which it lazily 
flowed until it reached the south end of the village, 
where to a natural fall of about twenty feet, was added 
a log dam, built to provide power for the first saw-mill 
constructed. Here the heavy volume of water, with 
roar and splash tumbled violently into the channel be- 
low, sending cloud-wreaths of mist to the surrounding 
tree-tops; and was about the only disturber of the forest 



24 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

solitude, for, as may be supposed, there was little of 
human din and clamor to break upon the ear. 

Respecting the naming of this stream, on the occasion 
of a centennial celebration in Trenton village, in 1876, 
we find in some historical notes furnished by Mr. War- 
ren Rowley, of South Trenton, the following: "Thomas 
Hicks built and kept a hotel in Trenton about where Dr. 
Guiteau's office now stands. Being an admirer of Cin- 
cinnatus, he named it the 'Cincinnatus House,' and had 
a large sign made on which was painted a portrait of 
this Roman patriot. It is said the Cincinnati creek re- 
ceived its name in this manner." 

Now it seems hardly credible that the stream known 
as "Cincinnati" could have taken its name from so in- 
considerable a circumstance as this, though it has so 
gone into history. In an historical sketch of Trenton 
given in Durant's "History of Oneida County," pub- 
lished in 1878, Mr. Rowley's notes are printed verbatim. 
But it seems to us far more probable that the "Cincin- 
natus House" took its name from the stream. We have 
never seen anj'^ account other than that given by Mr. 
Rowley, nor heard any other tradition as to the naming 
of the creek, though we believe it to have been named 
for the Society of the Cincinnati, and probably by Baron 
Steuben, in whose grant it has its source and through 
which it flows for some distance. The Baron was a de- 
voted member of this society, which was organized at 
his headquarters on the Hudson, on which occasion he 
presided. The principal streams on the Steuben Grant 
are Steuben and Cincinnati creeks. When this was 
surveyed and a map of the territory made, these streams 
must of necessity have been named. What more reas- 
onable to suppose than that one should be named in 
honor of the distinguished proprietor, and the other for 
the society of which he was the senior officer for many 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 25 

years? The City of Cincinnati, Ohio, was named by 
another revolutionary officer and member of the society. 
General St. Clair. 

Stephen Hutchinson, who occupied what was later 
known as the "Price Farm," where the road to Fair- 
child turns east from the turnpike, was here in 1796. 
He was elected overseer of the poor at the first town- 
meeting, and was also the first postmaster of Remsen, 
receiving his appointment October 1, 1809. Previous 
to that mail for Remsen had come to Trenton, where a 
post-office was established in 1805. Theodore Smith, 
Enoch Rogers, James Townsend, and John Stebbins, a 
revolutionary soldier and pensioner, were early residents 
of this settlement. 

Silas Fowler, who lived in Steuben, occupying Baron 
Steuben's house after the latter's death, removed to 
Remsen where he had bought a farm north of the village. 
He was a justice of the peace, and one of the deacons of 
the first church organization in the village, the English 
Congregational Society. 

Among the early settlers in the northern part of 
Trenton township was a man named Sprague, who set- 
tled very early near the Horace Powell place, a mile or 
more south of the village. In addition to burning lime, 
which was his chief occupation, he worked at bottoming 
chairs; that is, putting into chairs bottoms made of in- 
terwoven strips of split elm, hence they were called 
"splint-bottom" chairs. Mr. Sprague had been an offi- 
cer in the revolution, had been seriously wounded, and 
was a pensioner. For many years he was the only man 
in the community to take a newspaper. 

Jacob C. Nash, father of Andrew, lived a little south 
of the Sprague place, on the west side of the turnpike, 
on the farm now owned by J. G. Jones. He sold this 
property to Filkins Beadle, another early settler. 



26 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

John Mac Donald lived west of the H. L. Davis farm, 
at the crest of the hill; and William Frazier, father of 
the late Alexander Frazier, of Trenton, settled the John 
Jones (Farm) place in 1799. Still farther along on this 
road, in what was afterward called the Dr. Maurice 
neighborhood, lived a Scotch-Irish family named McEl- 
roy. And a little later there settled in that vicinity 
Griffith Methuselah Jones, father of the late William 
Meth Jones. He bought a small farm, and, after hav- 
ing paid for it, discovered that he had bought of the 
wrong patentee. He remained on the place, however, 
and paid for it a second time rather than lose his im- 
provements. A man named Edward Jones made the 
first clearing on the Pirnie stone-house farm, where he 
built a log house. It stood a little west of the present 
railroad, and north of the brook that flows under the 
tracks at this point and thence across the lime-kiln place 
to the creek. Robert M. Jones bought this farm from 
the original settler in 1811, and in 1818-19 built the 
stone house lately owned by Alexander Pirnie. David 
Williams, father of the late David H. Williams, made a 
clearing and built a log house on the place owned later 
by Rev. Richard Jones on the turnpike about one hun- 
dred rods north of the Pirnie house. 

Another Edward Jones, a maltster and brewer from 
New York city, was an early settler, if not the first, on 
the Richard Owens (Llanbadarn) place. His son mar- 
ried Susan, daughter of 'Squire Broughton White. In 
1806 Robert M. Jones made the first clearing and built 
a house on the Richard Lewis (Llanbadarn) farm, east 
of the John G. Jones farm, on the road to Prospect. In 
1811 he removed to the turnpike, as we have stated. 

Among those to locate on the "Corduroy road," 
which passed south of the John G. Jones house, was 
Hugh Owens, father of the late John J. and William H. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 27 

Owens. He emigrated from Wales to Philadelphia 
about 1801, and shortly after settled here. He was an 
exhorter of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist denomina- 
tion, and one of the organizers of Pen-y-caerau church. 
His daughter became the wife of John Edmunds, who 
for many years was a highly respected business man of 
Remsen, and who removed to Utica about 1856 or '57. 

Another resident on this road was Mrs. Jane Roberts, 
a widow, who followed the profession of mid-wife before 
Remsen was able to sustain a resident physician, and 
who even continued the vocation years after regular 
physicians were located here. She thus officiated at 
the nativity of the first-born sons and daughters of 
Remsen and vicinity. In those times, while there was 
much need of activity in the line of her calling, the fees 
she received were small, barely providing for her com- 
fort. She lived to a great age, dying at the home of her 
daughter, Mrs. Richard M. Jones, who then occupied 
the Frank G. Jones farm, on the State road, near the 
Jerome Witherell place. 

Evan George, father of Jeremiah, located on the 
R. R. Roberts place, which he subsequently sold to John 
L. Jones, Sr. On the Thomas Pritchard farm, south of 
him, lived Hugh Jones, whose daughter married John 
Parry. They were the parents of the late John Parry, 
for many years a contracting builder, and prominent 
citizen of Rome. William Worden was the first settler 
on the James Owen place, now owned by John L. Jones. 
At the junction of the State road and that leading past 
the Pen-y-caerau church to Fairchild, afterward known 
as the 'Squire Jenkins homestead and later owned by 
James Roberts, Matthew Hoyt kept a public house. 
About this time, also, there were located on the Pen-y- 
caerau road the Bronsons, the Wilkinsons, Andrew 
Cady, Sr., Stephen Buffington, Isaac Worden, Hull Tut- 



28 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

tie, and Juder Crosby, the last of whom "kept tavern" 
in a log house north of the church. 

In 1804, John Piatt, Jr., came to Remsen village from 
Steuben, and within the next few years, in company 
with his brother William, began work on the Piatt mills. 
And about this time. Noble & Blue built a tanneiy here. 

In 1810 the population of the township was four hun- 
dred and eighty-nine, with thirty-three senatorial elec- 
tors; and there was reported that year "two school- 
houses, used also for meetings of worship." These were 
the old "North school-house" in the Dayton District 
and one at Fairchild. 

About 1811 Heman Ferry, from Steuben, succeeded 
Jacob Betticher in the first store established here; and 
on August 17, 1813, he was appointed postmaster, 
which office he continued to hold until June, 1831. 

The year 1812 gave to Remsen one of the most kindly, 
beneficent and public spirited citizens it ever had, in the 
person of Col. Mather Beecher, who purchased the No- 
ble & Blue tannery and took up his residence here, 
where for more than fifty years he was one of the most 
prominent and highly respected in the community. 
During that year the turnpike from Utica to Sacket 
Harbor was completed. For a period of two or three 
years afterward, this highway was a most busy thor- 
oughfare, as many soldiers and sailors passed over it on 
their way to Sacket Harbor. The infantry marched, 
but the marines refused to do so, and conveyances had 
to be provided to transport them. Supplies and mili- 
tary stores for the army were hauled through by day 
and by night, and the rumble of heavy wagons with an 
accompaniment of curses by the drivers only too often 
disturbed the tranquil slumbers of the quiet burghers. 

In 1816, or the "Year Eighteen Hundred and Froze 
to Death," as the settlers long afterward were wont to 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 29 

speak of it, frost repeatedly destroyed vegetation, and 
ice formed on the Piatt mill-pond every month during 
the year. This cold season increased many fold the 
hardships they had already been forced to endure. 

It was this year also that the first settlements were 
made in that part of the township known as "Ninety 
Six" — so called from "Section 96" of the Remsenburgh 
Patent. Thomas and Garner Nichols, brothers, were 
among the first to locate here, and were soon followed 
by others, among whom were Samuel Roby, an exten- 
sive land owner and manufacturer of potash; Morey 
Nichols, Sr., who came from the Mohawk country; John 
Smith ; a Mr. Howard, with his sons Stephen and Wil- 
liam; the Sanderson family; a man named Cole who was 
a potash boiler; Henry Whiteman; Jesse Smith; John 
Worden; Anthony, Jacob, and John Bronson, Jr.; John 
and Henry IngersoU; and Asa Martin, Sr., with his sons 
Obadiah, John, and Asa, Jr. The last named married 
Betsy Wheeler, and reared a large family. He was a 
small, spare man, of a mild, kindly disposition, rather 
eccentric, going bare-foot from spring until fall, always 
moving about at a trotting pace, seemingly ever in a 
hurry, and with toothless gums industriously and con- 
tinually chewing the resinous product of his own spruce 
timber. He is well remembered by many who lived 
here forty years or more ago. Other settlers were Wil- 
liam Gay, Richard Perry, William N. Williams, Seth 
Smith, the Harrington brothers, Daniel and Joseph In- 
gersoU, brothers; the Hoover family, Stillman Smith, 
Esquire Fowler, Joseph Bickford and Waite Worden. 

David Bellinger settled in the contiguous district of 
"Bellinger-town." Jenkin Morris, who settled first at 
Pen-y-caerau, removed to Ninety Six. Oliver and Car- 
los Smith also located here. They later removed to 
Wisconsin, about 1853. William H. and Charles Thomas 



30 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

were prominent men in this section. It is said that 
the first framed building here was a barn built by "Uncle 
Tom" Nichols; though others claim that a house erected 
on the William H. Thomas place by Elder Cross, a min- 
ister of the Christian denomination who located here, 
was the first. There were several who bought farms in 
the vicinity, and after having partly or fully paid for 
them, found there was a question as to the validity of 
their titles; for the proprietor of whom they bought laid 
claim to a gore of five hundred acres against the claims 
of the Henry Remsen estate. The controversy of the 
rival claimants was taken into the courts, and after a 
wearisome litigation covering several years, was finally 
adjusted in favor of the Remsen heirs. Some of the set- 
tlers on this gore lost all that they had paid on their 
farms including improvements, and moved elsewhere 
to begin life over again. 

By 1820 the population had increased to nine hun- 
dred and twelve; and a corresponding growth in the 
population of the neighboring townships brought a 
proportionate increase to the business of Remsen 
village. That year Heman Ferry built a stone 
store, which stood just north of the present Dynes 
Hotel. His former store, in a part of which had been 
his dwelling, was enlarged; and here he continued to 
live for nearly twenty years. 

A descriptive view of the village at this time has 
been given by one of its earliest residents, as follows: 
Beginning at the south end of the present corporation, 
on the west side of the highway, was a dwelling; next 
to this was the Piatt dwelling, conducted as a public 
house, and at present owned by John Humphreys; 
next north, on the south corner of Steuben road, was 
the hotel of Joseph Halstead, who had married a widow 
Potter, who formerly had conducted the hotel; and 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 31 

on the north corner of the road was the combined 
store and residence of Heman Ferry, and just north 
of that was his new store, then in course of building. 
From this on were open fields, until the site of the 
present Baptist church was reached, where stood 
the residence of Colonel Beecher, afterward occupied 
by Elisha Booth, and about twenty-five rods in the 
rear of this building was Beecher's tannery; next 
was a small shoe-shop, also owned by Colonel Beecher; 
then the hotel of Oliver Smith, later purchased by 
Colonel Beecher and remodeled by him for his resi- 
dence; next, just north of the present residence of 
Augustus Owens, was the home of John Stebbins; 
and there was also a house on the present Samuel 
place. 

On the east side of the highway, nearly opposite 
the house last mentioned, was the large framed house 
still standing, built about this time by David Aldrich, 
a mill-wright and carpenter. On account of his quiet, 
dignified manner, Mr. Aldrich was called "Deacon," 
though he was not identified with any church. The 
next building south was the district schoolhouse, and 
on the south corner of the road leading to the depot 
was the "Upper Tavern," built by Tyler Mitchell, 
with the hotel barn and sheds on the north corner. 
Continuing south from the Mitchell hotel, the first 
building was the house of James Beaurhyte, which 
is still a landmark of the village, occupying a site on 
the north corner of the lane leading to the Steam Mill. 
South of this was the house of Barton Johnson, oc- 
cupied later by Gen. Zalmon Root, where he died; 
which also was owned and occupied for many years 
by the Rev. Morris Roberts. On the north corner 
of the road leading past the stone church, was the 
house of Broughton White, which he later moved to 



32 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

a site near the Steam Mill, where it still stands, facing 
the creek, and where lived latterly Huldah Booth. 
After removing this house to its present location, 
Mr. White built the store which now occupies this 
corner. Next was the present Gainsway House, 
built by Dr. Earl Bill in 1814, and conducted by him 
as a hotel for many years. Next, was the house of 
Owen S. Evans, built by John Piatt, Jr., about 1811. 
When first built it was a story and a half structure, 
standing with its side to the street, having a door at 
either end, and was designed to accommodate two 
families. For some distance immediately below this 
the water of the mill-pond came almost, or quite, up 
to the present east line of the street, which was thickly 
strewn with saw-logs to be converted into lumber 
at the saw-mill, while great forest trees and alders 
lined the bank of the stream. The next buildings 
were the saw-mill and grist-mill of William Piatt, 
below the dam. South of these on the north corner 
of the road leading to Prospect, was a blacksmith 
shop. Of sidewalks there were none except well- 
trodden paths which served satisfactorily enough 
in dry seasons, but spring and fall and heavy sum- 
mer showers unfailingly revealed in them the depth 
and adhesive quality of the rich surface soil, a condi- 
tion that was unimproved until Colonel Beecher 
caused tan-bark to be hauled from his tannery and 
deposited upon them from time to time. 

There was no building on Steuben street, except 
Heman Ferry's barn, which occupied the site of Miss 
Mary Evans' house; and none east of the creek within 
the present village limits, until 1823, when Calvin 
Allen built for his home the house owned and occu- 
pied for many years by the late Josiah Griffiths, a 
part of which is now the office of B. K. Brown & Son. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 33 

The second house east of the stream was built in 1825, 
by Calvin Allen, for Dr. Earl Bill, which still stands, 
upon the southeast corner of Maple and Prospect 
streets; and was long the home of Robert R. Roberts, 
the merchant tailor. As soon as the frame of this 
building was raised and the bents pinned into posi- 
tion, it was formally voted by the men present — and 
it is supposed that nearly every man in the village 
was at the "raising" — to name the street leading up 
the hill "La Fayette street," in honor of the French 
nobleman who perilled his life and bestowed his means 
toward securing American independence. The Mar- 
quis at that time was on a visit to this country, making 
a tour of the states. As we already have a Steuben 
street, it seems that the name chosen on that occasion 
should be restored ; thereby giving to the two principal 
thoroughfares diverging from the main street names 
in memory of both these distinguished foreigners, 
who sacrificed so much for the American cause. 

About 1820, several Welsh families that had emigrat- 
ed here in 1818, settled on the French Road, about seven 
miles northwest of Remsen. Among them were Rich- 
ard W. Jones; William Edwards; Evan Evans, father of 
Mrs. Robert R. Roberts and Mrs. Thomas Morgan of 
Remsen ; Owen Richards ; and Evan Perry. Other early 
settlers in that locality were Evan George, father of 
Thomas; Robert Davies; and Walter James. 

In 1830 the population of the township had in- 
creased to 1,400. Between 1825 and 1830, Major 
Andrew Billings, who was destined to take an im- 
portant part in affairs of this section, came to the 
settlement and opened a store on the comer of Steu- 
ben street, in the building where Joseph Halstead 
formerly kept hotel, which is still standing. On 
June 4, 1831, he was appointed postmaster. In 



34 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

1828, as highway commissioner, he issued a "warning" 
to the free-holders on the road between Fairchild and 
Bardwell, whence we find the following were located 
there: Jehiel Rockwood; Richard Morgan; Jesse Mor- 
gan; William Allen; William Roberts; Elisha Larabee; 
William Rockwood; Whitman Morgan; Luther Allen; 
Nathaniel Rockwood; and David Perry. 

In a letter to the writer, Broughton W. Green says: 
"I can remember back to 1830-31, and the men who 
were considered the best men in Remsen in those days, 
from 1831 to 1848, were Gen. Zalmon Root, and his son 
Zalmon D., Maj. Andrew Billings, Col, Mather Beecher, 
Heman Ferry, Isaac W. Roberts, Morgan Owen, Jabez 
Burchard, Chester G., Silas, and Ezekiel Kent; the last 
three successful farmers, as was also Milo Mitchell, who 
was likewise a Methodist exhorter. Heman Ferry was 
the most successful in the mercantile business of any 
man who ever did business in Remsen. There have 
very many good men gone out of Remsen to fight the 
battles of life — very many who have proved themselves 
a benefit to the world, an honor to those who bore them, 
and a blessing to all." 

In addition to most of the names given by Mr. Green 
as the prominent men of Remsen in those years, Mrs. 
Rockwood gives the following: ''Agui' Fairchild, and 
his son Samuel; Caleb Nichols; William G. Jones; Jer- 
emiah Bonner; Judson Witherell; Tyler Mitchell; Perez 
Farr; Bohan Smith; Evan Owens, school superintend- 
ent, and justice of the peace; Whitman Morgan, who 
married Electa Franklin; John D. Tefft, who married 
Sophia Messenger; Elisha Larabee; Enoch, James and 
Raymond Hall; Hugh Hughes, who built the Jerome 
Witherell stone-house, and ran it for many years as a 
public house; Pliny Morgan; Harry Sheldon; and a Mr. 
Bowles, the last three being located on the State road." 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 35 

To those residing in the village Mrs. Rockwood adds the 
following: "0. J. Owens; Griffith W. Roberts; Orange 
Hopkins, a wagon-maker, who built the Rev. E. C. 
Evans house, and the one next south, the latter used as 
a wagon-shop; Caleb Steves, a justice of the peace; Ja- 
cob Lewis; Samuel Johnson, who was a very useful mem- 
ber of society, and active in every good work; and his 
brothers, Sylvester and Selden Johnson." 

On the turnpike six miles north of Remsen village, is 
the little settlement called "Bethel," where, about this 
time, several families located. Among the early dwel- 
lers there were William Jones (Plwyf Bryncroes); Wil- 
liam Hughes, father of Hugh Hughes, and of the late 
Mrs. Owen 0. Owens, Mrs. Herbert Williams, and Mrs. 
Richard Thomas, of old Steuben station; Jacob Melen, 
a German, who had served in the British army; John 0. 
Hughes, with his sons Griffith, Evan and John'; Jacob 
Williams; and John M. Jones, brother of Robt. M. Jones. 

The census enumeration of 1840 showed a population 
of 1,630; and in 1845 the village was incorporated by 
act of the legislature. The completion of the Plank 
road, in the fall of 1848, added very materially to the 
facilities for transportation of merchandise, diminished 
the time of transit, lessened the exertions of both men 
and teams, and brought to travel in general here a de- 
gree of ease and comfort before unknown. For the first 
two or three years after the road was completed, every 
man who owned a horse was accustomed often to go for 
a drive "up the Plank," or "down the Plank," to test his 
animal's speed, if not his endurance, which latter was 
frequently taxed to the utmost, and the rustic gallant 
who did not take his "Dulcinia" for a drive on the new 
speed-way, soon lost favor in her estimation; with the 
result, finally, that knee-sprung or stiff-jointed, many a 
good roadster was relegated to ignominious farm work. 



36 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

In 1849-50 the State dam was constructed, as a feeder 
to the Black River canal; and this stimulated settle- 
ment in the section now known as Forestport, but then 
a part of this township. The entire northern section 
had but few settlers before this work was begun; but it 
soon thereafter became a lumbering center of consider- 
able importance. Some of the largest lumber mills ever 
erected in the state were located here, also an immense 
tannery. The completion of the canal afforded an out- 
let to market for the vast amount of timber standing 
throughout the region. 

According to the census of 1850, Remsen had a popu- 
lation of 2,384, and, shortly after this date, the subject 
of a railroad through the town began to awaken interest. 
There was much discussion as to the prospective bene- 
fits therefrom ; for instance, one farmer saw in it a great 
advantage to the local farmers, since they could have 
train-loads of manure from the livery stables at Utica 
hauled for use as fertilizer. It is needless to say that he 
did not take into consideration the schedule of freight- 
rates that afterward went into effect. Some even pre- 
dicted that the railroad would bring such a volume of 
prosperity to the community that, ultimately, Remsen 
would have to apply for a city charter. The township 
was heavily bonded to aid the enterprise, and the stock 
was liberally subscribed here, which showed what great 
faith the inhabitants really had in the undertaking. 
However, with the failure of the first company their 
faith in the soundness of railroad securities was so badly 
shaken that, at the reorganization, only one man in the 
township paid the assessment, John T. Griffiths (Creu- 
giau), who lived to enjoy substantial dividends from his 
stock. But the railroad never brought to Remsen the 
commercial prosperity many had anticipated; for in- 
stead of bringing wealth into the community, all the 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 37 

available currency was carried to Utica, where the peo- 
ple went to take advantage of the cash sales offered, and 
when their cash was gone, returned to the local mer- 
chants for credit. 

In 1855 occurred what Broughton W. Green denom- 
inates "Obadiah's unequalled failure." Obadiah J. 
Owen, a man prominent in social and religious circles, 
and a merchant of varied and extensive interests, 
had gained the unbounded confidence of the commu- 
nity. The people carried their money to him as they 
would to a bank, taking as security his individual 
notes; and if they did not bring the money to him 
voluntarily, he sought them out and asked them for 
it. Then reverses came to him, and he was unable 
to meet his obligations, in consequence of which very 
many were brought face to face with financial ruin. 
He removed with his family to St. Louis shortly after, 
where he engaged in the commission business. It 
was nearly thirty years before the people here regained 
even the semblance of a foothold on "the stepping 
stones to prosperity" after this failure. 

In 1860 when the population had increased to 2,670, 
it shared in common with the rest of the country the 
dark foreboding of the terrible civil strife that was so 
soon to break out, deluging our land with blood. 
But the generous contributions of men and money 
which these townships so freely gave for the Union 
cause in the following four years are matters of public 
record, and it would be superfluous for us to rehearse 
them here in detail ; though it seems appropriate in 
this connection to mention that the first to volun- 
teer in Remsen village, if not in the township, under 
the first call of President Lincoln for troops was Owen, 
a son of Thomas 0. Roberts. 

For a number of years the question of a division of 



38 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

the township came up periodically for discussion among 
the tax payers of Remsen. The measure most strongly 
advocated was that of erecting the northern half of 
the territory into a new township, to be known as 
Forestport. This was strenuously urged by the peo- 
ple who lived in what is now Remsen township, and 
as steadfastly opposed by those who lived within the 
limits of the present township of Forestport. The 
motive for the division on the part of those who urged 
it, was relief from the comparatively enormous tax 
burden imposed each year for the building and main- 
tenance of bridges across Black river, and for damages 
caused by that river's overflow in the time of freshets; 
and, furthermore, they argued that these bridges 
were of no direct benefit to them, since they seldom 
had occasion to visit those parts, but were almost 
exclusively maintained for the use and benefit of the 
people of the northern section. 

In 1869 the question was submitted to what would 
now be termed a "referendum," or in other words to 
a vote at town meeting, which that year was held in 
Remsen village, and almost the entire voting popula- 
tion of both sections was on hand. Naturally there 
was much excitement, and great delay was encoun- 
tered owing to the challenging of votes, to wrangling, 
and to fistic encounters between some of the rival 
partisans, in consequence of which voting progressed 
very slowly. Late in the voting hours an athletic 
young fellow of the village, now a prominent railroad 
man in one of our western states, was seen to pick up 
a ballot-box and dash out of the voting place. Some 
one started the cry that the ballot-box had been 
stolen. Instantly the whole of Forestport's delega- 
tion, suspecting trickery, started in hot pursuit of 
ballot-box and boy. The latter ran through streets, 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 39 

cut corners, jumped fences, dodged into lanes and 
backyards, with the voters of Forestport almost to 
a man at his heels ; and when he had reached the open, 
fled like a deer along the hillsides, with the more stal- 
wart and long-limbed of the northmen in close pursuit, 
while the winded and less fleet stopped, and in gaping 
amazement stood watching the chase. 

After the boy had led his followers a long and a 
merry run over the hills, he dropped the box, and 
with personal safety in view took to the tall timber. 
The box recovered, the chase was at an end. But 
examination disclosed it to be a ficticious ballot-box. 
Then the pursuers, in a torrent of rage and with curses 
loud and vehement, hastened back to the voting place, 
only to find the polls closed, and to learn that the 
measure against which it had been their intent to 
cast their votes had been carried by a safe majority. 

Subsequently, it was charged that the ballot-box 
had been "stuffed;" but inasmuch as the men of For- 
estport had been enjoying a diversion elsewhere, 
while the voters of Remsen were attending religiously 
— as all good citizens should — to the duty of voting, 
they were unable to substantiate their charge, and 
the result, in favor of division, was duly confirmed. 
Forestport was accordingly set off and organized as 
a township November 24, 1869. 

Following the division, the census enumeration for 
1870 showed the diminished territory of Remsen to 
contain a population of 1,184. Two years later, a 
new village charter was obtained, under the general 
act for the incorporation of villages. 

In Durant's History of Oneida County (1878), it 
is said that of the entire population of the village at 
that time there were but two families which were not 
wholly or partly Welsh. 



40 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

The following few paragraphs briefly mention some 
of the early merchants, and those engaged in other 
lines of trade in the village. Most of these began 
their business career at the lowest round of the ladder, 
and several of them built up commercial enterprises 
of considerable magnitude for their time. They 
bought, sold, and shipped farm and dairy products 
extensively, also lumber and shingles; and each fall 
they bought up droves of dry and fatted cattle which 
were driven to Utica and Albany, whence they were 
shipped to New York for market. 

"Set up in business," as the saying was, in a small 
shop slenderly stocked with such goods as were need- 
ful in country trade, each morning the young mer- 
chant took down his shutters, opened his doors, swept 
out his store and dusted his goods himself — and this 
was completed by the time the gray dawn broke — 
for those were the days when men prospered by rising 
early and attending to the details of their business 
themselves. Many started their commercial career 
with no capital other than their reputation for indus- 
try and punctuality. Honest dealing and hard labor 
were then much the fashion. 

In an historical address delivered at Trenton July 
4, 1876, Hon. John F. Seymour, describing Trenton 
village as it was in 1804, says: "At that time there 
was no Prospect. There was Remsen, but no store 
there." This clearly is an error, for it may be proved 
beyond question that Remsen had a store in 1803, 
established by Broughton White. Succeeding him 
at the same location on the north corner of the turn- 
pike and the Steuben road, was Jacob Betticher, who 
later had for a partner John Mappa, son of the agent 
of the Holland Land Company, Adam Gerard Mappa, 
of Trenton. Betticher & Mappa sold their business 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 41 

to Heman Ferry about 1811. In 1820 the latter 
moved into his new store, which he built on the main 
road — it could not then properly be called a street — 
about ten rods north of the corner. 

Between 1825 and '30, Maj. Andrew Billings opened 
a store on the south comer of these roads, and here 
was the postoffice in 1831. Later he built a store 
farther north, on what is now Main street, now owned 
by Dr. E. G. Williams and occupied by Mr. Sanborn. 
He continued to act as postmaster until 1849. After 
some years Obadiah J. Owen succeeded Mr. Billings, 
Evan Jones being associated with him as partner a 
portion of the time, Mr. Owen receiving appointment 
as postmaster in 1853. 

Theodore Smith, nephew of Bohan Smith, was 
early in mercantile trade here. Before 1835 Selden 
Johnson built a store immediately north of the resi- 
dence of the late Hugh Thomas, Sr., where he sold 
groceries. The building was afterward used by Wil- 
liam R. Roberts for a carpenter and coffin-making 
shop, he being for many years the local undertaker, 
and later being succeeded by his son Robert W. in 
the same business there. Another early prominent 
merchant was Griffith W. Roberts, who built the store 
now occupied by R. 0. Griffiths. Luther Conkling was 
also in business and served one term as supervisor. 

The store that stands on the north corner of Main 
and Prospect streets was built by Broughton White 
for his son, Thomas Broughton White, who was in 
trade here for some years, and then engaged in the 
commission business in New York city, where he was 
very successful, finally retiring and settling in Vernon, 
N. Y., where he died. About 1834 Isaac W. Roberts 
succeeded T. B. White in the business he had estab- 
lished here, but in 1838 bought out Heman Ferry, 



42 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

securing the business, the stone store, and the dwell- 
ing immediately south, which originally was Mr. 
Ferry's store, but was remodeled by him for his resi- 
dence. In the "Annals of Oneida County," 1850, 
this building is mentioned as the oldest in the village. 
Sometime in the early '40s Mr. Roberts sold his stock 
of goods to Jonah Howe and John Billings, the latter 
of Trenton, and they continued the business for two 
or three years under the firm name of Howe & Bil- 
lings, when Mr, Roberts re-purchased the goods and 
was there until 1857. 

A co-operative store was established about 1848, 
called "The Farmer's Union," occupying the present 
hardware store of R. O. Griffiths. This "Union 
Store" was under the management of James B. Ray, 
who also was postmaster from 1849 to '53. About 
1855 the business was closed out. William White 
was in the grocery business at the same place from 
1858 to '63. 

John J. Owens, after carrying on a general store 
at Prospect, conducted a grocery and confectionery 
store in the building later occupied by George Jones, 
directly across the street from the Griffiths hardware 
store. Gilbert Thomas at one time kept a grocery 
at the same stand. William Evans, of Steuben, in 
the early '40s conducted a grocery business where 
Howard's jewelry store now is, as did also John Jones 
and Robert Griffiths somewhat later. Jonah Howe 
was in general business for some years in the R. G. 
Griffiths store, which was built by him, and was suc- 
ceeded by James P. Owen, who, about 1866, sold out 
to William H. Owens. He in turn was succeeded by 
Robert G. Griffiths, who has continued in the business, 
first, as a partner with Mr. Owens, and later alone, 
for a period of nearly fifty years. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 43 

Robert R. Roberts was for many years a merchant 
tailor and clothier, doing business in the store next 
south of R, G. Griffiths, and was succeeded by Thomas 
Morgan. Morgan Owen, a representative business 
man, and postmaster from 1861 to '66 and from 1867 
to 1881, was for many years in the boot and shoe 
business. He was succeeded by Evan Roberts, who 
continued the same for nearly forty years. John 
Powell, brother of Horace Powell, at one time con- 
ducted a grocery in the Remsen National Bank build- 
ing. William S. and Owen S. Evans, brothers, car- 
ried on the same line in the Billings store from 1857 
or 1858, to 1864, after which Owen S. Evans conducted 
the business alone, there and at another location on 
the east side of Main street. From 1858 to 1861, 
William S. Evans was acting postmaster for Nathan 
C. Phelps, and Owen S. Evans filled this office for two 
terms, from 1881 to 1885, and from 1889 to 1893. 

About 1856 Thomas 0. Roberts and John B. Jones 
formed a co-partnership under the name of Roberts 
& Jones. This partnership was dissolved about 1860, 
T. 0. Roberts retiring and James Roberts taking an 
interest with John B. Jones, under the firm name of 
Jones & Roberts. They did business in the store 
now occupied by Owen Griffiths, though Jenks Jones 
and Samuel Johns, respectively, carried on a general 
merchandise business at the same place after the 
dissolution of the Jones & Roberts firm. John B. 
Jones, after retiring removed to Independence, Iowa, 
where he engaged in banking in partnership with 
Wallace Francis, another ex-resident of Remsen; and 
James Roberts removed to Utica where he soon took 
his place among the foremost merchants of that city. 
Owen Roberts, a brother of James, was later in business 
in the Billings store. 



44 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Griffith 0. Griffiths dealt in farm implements and 
machinery, introducing here the first mowers, thresh- 
ing machines, horse-power wood-saws, etc. John Ed- 
munds was a clothier and merchant tailor, carrying 
on business in a store that stood north of the stone 
store, Mr. Edmunds formed a partnership with 
B. F. Gray, and the firm was known as Edmunds & 
Gray. Mr. Edmunds removed to Utica about 1857, 
and, about the same year, Mr. Gray removed to 
Racine, Wis., and later to St. Louis, where his sons 
have attained eminence as business men. Succeeding 
the last named firm, Lewis & Morris conducted the 
ready-made clothing business for a few years. James 
Edmunds was a merchant tailor here for many years 
and moved to Utica about 1866. John P. Samuel 
was long a clothing merchant, doing business on the 
south corner of Main street and the street leading 
past the site of the old Baptist church. John J. 
Roberts also had a clothing store here in the '70s. 
About 1863, Richard R. Jones and Richard Richards 
opened a grocery in the stone store. Later they re- 
moved to the Remsen Bank building, where they 
carried on a general store for some years, when Mr. 
Richards retired and Mr. Jones continued the busi- 
ness alone. 

The first druggist was Dr. Thomas Morris, and the 
second, Dr. E. G. Williams. Formerly all general 
stores carried a very complete line of drugs and patent 
medicines. Delos Beaurhyte and John Pugh were 
makers and dealers in harness. Reese Roberts was 
the first tin-smith and Owen Roberts succeeded him. 
William H. Davis was in the tin and hardware trade 
up to 1867, when he removed to Mankato, Minn., 
and was succeeded here by William H. Williams. 
Thomas Jones and Humphrey Pugh were in the cus- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 45 

torn boot and shoe business, though not in partnership. 
The former died here and the latter removed to Bangor, 
Wis., about 1866. John B, Jones, 2d, kept a general 
store for several years, and was postmaster from 1885 
to 1889. Hiram Johnson, Selden Johnson and Jonah 
Howe began their business careers as clerks in the 
store of Andrew Billings, and became successful busi- 
ness men. Obadiah J. Owen acquired his first exper- 
ience in mercantile life as a clerk in the store of Heman 
Ferry. Didymus Thomas, James Edmunds and Robert 
Everett, Jr., when young men were daguerreotype art- 
ists who preserved to many the features of their an- 
cestors. 



CHAPTER III 

PIONEER CONDITIONS 

The early settlers acquired only small farms as a 
rule, say of forty, fifty, or sometimes sixty acres, as 
being amply proportionate to their needs and means. 
To clear only a few acres of the heavy tangled growth 
of primitive forest, and afterward to prepare a small 
portion of the clearing for cultivation upon which 
the family must solely rely for support, required much 
physical energy and no little courage and boldness. 
Provided with only the rudest implements, it was 
perforce by the might of his own hands that the set- 
tler conquered both the forest and the rugged soil. 

In consequence of the small number of acres in the 
original farms, the rural districts were then more 
thickly populated than at present. In many cases 
several of these small farms or homesteads of early 
times are now included in one; and evidences of this 
are sometimes noticeable in the midst of cultivated 
fields, where, perhaps in and about a depression that 
has been nearly leveled by the plow, may be found 
bits of earthen-ware, broken crockery, and remnants 
of fire-cracked and vitrified chimney-stones, indicat- 
ing the site of a former home. Again one finds a 
group of wild plum trees, or a cluster of some domestic 
shrub or plant marking an abandoned garden-plot. 
In these a few useful herbs and flowers of the common- 
est varieties were about all that then were cultivated 
— tansy, wormwood, chamomile, horehound and sage 
among the former, while marigolds, grass pinks, peonies, 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 47 

hollyhocks, live-forever and ribbon-grass adorned the 
little cultivated plots, or bordered the walk leading 
to the door. 

Their log cabins were hastily constructed and rudely 
fashioned. In most of them the well-packed earth 
was the only flooring, though some had what was 
known as "punchion floors," that is, logs split through 
the center and laid with the flat side uppermost. 
Oiled paper was used instead of window-glass, though 
not transparent, admitting some light. Sawed lum- 
ber being scarce, blankets were used instead of doors; 
and as wolves were sometimes numerous and trouble- 
some, a table set on end against the opening often 
had to serve for protection at night. 

A prominent feature of the dwelling was the fire- 
place. Its chimney built entirely outside the house, 
had much the appearance of having been first on the 
ground. If it "drew well," like some hired speakers 
of to-day, nothing further was required. They were 
made of the abounding field stone, their outer edges 
projecting at all angles, which enabled the small boy 
of the family easily to clamber not only to the roof, 
but to the chimney-top as well, when an elevated 
view was desired to see if the cows were in the corn, 
or if an expected visitor were approaching. 

In all well-regulated families the fire was supposed 
never to be allowed to die out; but occasionally, when 
through carelessness or unavoidable lack of vigilance 
the last vital embers in the fire-place were suffered 
to blacken and die, some one must needs go forthwith 
to the nearest neighbor for the necessary fire-brand 
to rekindle the blaze. It was a common ironical 
inquiry, when a caller prepared to depart with seeming 
haste: "What's your hurry, did you come after fire?" 
A blaze sometimes necessarily was kindled in a quan- 



48 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

tity of tow by flint and steel, though the process of 
starting a fire in this manner was slow, requiring much 
patient blowing by means of the breath or the hand- 
bellows; the latter very useful article being found in 
nearly every household. The match was a luxury 
unknown, for the invention of "lucifer" and "loco- 
foco" matches occurred within the memory of peo- 
ple still living. 

Other lighting than that afforded by the open fire- 
place was first furnished by the "rush candle," which 
was made from the soft rushes found growing in moist 
pastures and by the side of streams. The rushes were 
gathered in mid-summer, kept in water to prevent their 
drying and shrinking, and finally peeled of their outer 
case, all except one narrow, regular strip from top to 
bottom, left to support the pith. Thus prepared they 
were placed upon the grass to bleach and receive the 
dew for several nights, then dried in the sun, when they 
were ready for dipping in fat. Some adeptness was re- 
quired to dip them in the scalding fat or grease, though 
the knack was soon acquired by practice. And these 
homely rush candles gave a good clear light. 

In process of time, when twisted candle-wick could 
be procured, candles were made by tieing a number of 
pieces of wick of uniform length on a stick, two or three 
inches apart, then dipping them in melted tallow. A 
rack or frame-work was arranged to support a number 
of these sticks, so that when the wicks on each had been 
dipped and placed upon the rack, the first treated had 
become sufficiently hardened to permit redipping; and 
thus the process was repeated, until the required size 
and symmetry were obtained. 

When it happened that the candle supply of a house- 
hold became unexpectedly exhausted, it was common to 
improvise a substitute by submerging a strip of linen in 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 49 

a saucer of lard, one end resting on the edge of the dish, 
where the Hght was applied. In the short days candles 
were much used in the dairy and in the kitchen, both 
morning and evening; but in the long winter evenings 
the huge logs burning in the mammoth fire-place caused 
the feeble candle-flame to pale into dismal insignifi- 
cance, when it would be discarded and the domestic and 
social duties continued by fire-light. 

Few families possessed either clocks or watches, and 
this lack of mechanical device for measuring time was 
among the many inconveniences that must be endured. 
Still, they marked the passing hours quite accurately 
without these aids. On days when the sun shone, they 
could reckon time's pace very correctly by reference to 
marks drawn upon the floor or window-sill; naturally 
the shadows varied a little each day, by reason of the 
earth's ellipse, for which allowance was duly made. In 
cloudy weather, however, the hour was largely a matter 
of conjecture, based on the expressed opinion of differ- 
ent members of the household. At night the barn-yard 
fowls were reliable proclaimers of the speeding hours, 
for the roosters started crowing at eleven-thirty or 
twelve o'clock, and repeated their call at half-hour in- 
tervals until after sunrise, with a precision equalling 
that of the bell-watch on shipboard. But withal, con- 
jectures as to time would occasionally go very wide of 
the mark, as the following incident will illustrate : — 

A stone mason of the vicinity secured work at South 
Trenton, living for the time in the family where he was 
employed. One evening it was announced that, as 
some of the men of the household wished to get an early 
start the following morning to carry the season's yield 
of wool to a carding mill several miles distant, all hands 
would be required to seek their beds early, as they would 
be called for breakfast long before daylight. Thus, 



so HISTORY OF REMSEN 

shortly after candle-light all retired, and were soon 
asleep. In due course they were summoned by the 
housewife, and found the morning meal ready spread. 
While they were eating, a wind arose, changing to tur- 
bulence what had been a calm and peaceful night. Be- 
fore the breakfast was over, some of the company began 
to speculate as to what the precise hour might be; one 
remarked that he had not heard the roosters crow, 
while others went out to survey the sky in an effort to 
settle the question by reference to the position of the 
"great dipper." Finally, however, they unitedly de- 
termined that it was too early to start to mill, so they 
made themselves comfortable, some retuing to their 
rooms and to bed. The latter enjoyed a long and re- 
freshing rest before they arose again at day-break. In 
the course of the day a neighbor who was fortunate 
enough to own a clock, chancing to call, was asked at 
what time during the night the wind had begun to blow, 
and replied, "at eleven o'clock." 

Sometimes families would arrive at church an hour or 
more before time for service; and a number of authen- 
ticated instances are related of their arriving after the 
benediction had been pronounced and the congregation 
were leaving. 

In later years "Down East Yankees," as they were 
called, occasionally came through peddling clocks. 
These time-pieces were simply the uncovered works to 
hang upon the wall, the weights and pendulum all in 
evidence; for cases to these "grand-father's clocks" 
were too cumbersome to transport from so far-away a 
country as Connecticut. A crafty ruse of the wily ped- 
dler was to obtain permission to hang a clock in the 
house for two or three weeks, or until his return trip, 
stating in explanation that the roads were rough and 
his wagon heavily loaded. The generous-hearted set- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 51 

tier seldom refused to grant so simple a request; and 
the clock would be installed accordingly, the pendulum 
adjusted, weights attached, the mechanism wound and 
set in motion, and instructions given to keep it running 
until the owner's return. However, when he called on 
his homeward trip, it almost invariably was found that 
the simple little contrivance had so ingratiated itself 
into the affectionate favor of the household, that it was 
unanimously decided that they could not endure the 
thought of letting it go out of the family. 

There still are found here clocks made by Hoadley, 
by Hopkins, and by Whiting, now from a hundred to a 
hundred and fifty years old, their mechanism construct- 
ed entirely of wood; and then, too, there are found those 
that were brought to this country by some of the Welsh 
settlers, in which the works are of brass, bearing the 
imprint of some English or Welsh manufacturer. And 
they are serving the present generation as faithfully 
as they did the sire and grandsire, measuring time and 
hourly proclaiming its flight. 

Household articles now so common as to be consid- 
ered absolutely essential to comfort, were then either 
entirely lacking or regarded as exceptional luxuries. 
Even the ordinary pin, so plentiful in these days of mi- 
crobe avoidance that some there are who disdain to use 
the same one a second time, were then often wanting in 
the family. Pins were then made with the heads form- 
ed of separate pieces of metal, or twisted wire, which 
often became detached from the body as completely as 
did the heads of some ambitious monarchs of former 
times; and the few pins that a fortunate household pos- 
sessed would be hoarded and kept in use so long that it 
became an exception to find one that had not lost its 
head. Two good sewing needles and a darning needle 
were considered ample provision for a family, to which 



52 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

of course must be added the ever-present knitting need- 
les. A large-sized pin used for fastening wraps and 
shawls has been known to serve the members of more 
than one generation. 

There were no baby carriages, and, owing to the scar- 
city of sawed lumber, even the cradle was often want- 
ing. The grandfathers and grandmothers of some of 
the most prosperous families of the present generation 
were lullabied to their infant slumbers while cradled in 
a sap-trough. 

There were times when an ingredient so necessary to 
the art of cooking as common baking-soda could not be 
obtained, or if obtainable the needful shillings or pence 
wherewith to pay for it were lacking ; so to meet the con- 
tingency the resourceful housewife would burn a quan- 
tity of corn-cobs on the hearthstone, and carefully col- 
lecting the white portion of their ashes use them as a 
substitute for soda. 

Compensations there were, which in a measure atoned 
for the privations, inconveniences, and hard labor en- 
dured ; for there was contentment and happiness withal, 
and charity and good-will generally prevailed. As Mr. 
Simeon Fuller expresses in a letter of reminiscences to 
the writer: "The first settlers were helpful and obliging 
to one another. If any of them through sickness or any 
other bad luck were unable to get in his crops, a bee was 
made and he was helped out. And if a new settler came 
and was in destitute circumstances, they divided with 
him until he could help himself. If a bear or a deer were 
killed, a feast was made and the neighbors without dis- 
tinction were called in to share it. Despite all their 
privations and hardships, they, without exception, 
would declare these the happiest days of their lives." 

Social pleasures were not entirely wanting, though 
opportunities in this respect were exceedingly limited, 



HISTORY OF REMSEN S3 

being restricted principally to mutual visiting; and as all 
endured hardships in common, on the principle that 
"one touch of nature makes the whole world kin," no 
social distinctions save honesty and respectability were 
recognized. Trivial distinctions there were, of course, 
for some had received certain advantages in their for- 
mer homes that others in the new settlements had never 
been privileged to enjoy; but on the whole they met so- 
cially on common ground as equals. The young people 
for miles around gatherd at "corn-huskings," or "par- 
ing-bees," or at "sugarings-off," where in the latter the 
final touches in the maple sugar camps furnished a lux- 
ury that "kings and potentates" might long for. Then, 
too, the more mature matrons would meet at "quilt- 
ings," or afternoon teas, where, if they did not sew for 
the hostess, they brought their own sewing or knitting, 
for their hands were never idle. And where there was 
ordinarily so little to divert the even tenor of their 
minds, and these occasions for meeting socially so rare, 
naturally the neighborhood news and gossip must needs 
be recounted, and family trials and afflictions described, 
through lack of more important topics. One dame might 
regale the company with the symptoms of her daughter 
who had "the janders," while another would have the 
assembly conjecturing as to who could be the guilty one 
who got up before sunrise and plucked Mrs. — 's geese. 
The less seriously inclined sometimes found pleasura- 
ble diversion upon the floor of Oliver Smith's ball-room, 
tripping "the light fantastic" to the strains of "Uncle 
Tom" Nichols' violin. These dancing-parties were held 
during the afternoon and early evening, owing perhaps 
to the long distance some of the guests were obliged to 
come. The dance began soon after the arrival of the 
guests, in mid-afternoon of the short winter day, and 
continued until six o'clock, when there was an inter- 



54 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

mission while supper was served. Then after supper 
dancing was resumed, but by ten o'clock all was over. 
The guests, wrapped in warm skins or heavy home-made 
blankets, seated in large farm sleighs generously pro- 
vided with straw, returned to their homes ; their lives to 
be cheered long after by the memory of these few hours 
of mirth and gayety, snatched from an existence in the 
main all too joyless and solitary. 

Regarding the question of agriculture, it soon became 
manifest to the early settlers that the soil of these hill 
townships was not adapted to gi'ain, and little attempt 
was made to raise any except the coarser varieties, or at 
least only in such quantity as was needful for home con- 
sumption. Many acres were devoted to the cultivation 
of flax. It was a crop that was known to impoverish the 
soil more rapidly than any other, yet it yielded well, 
and was a product indispensable to the early inhabitant. 
Eventually, attention was turned to grazing and dairy- 
ing, and the farms speedily became well stocked with 
cattle and sheep. But in this enterprise, however, no 
regard was paid to selection or breeding, for any distinc- 
tion of "caste" or quahty — in these parts, at least — was 
not recognized or understood ; broad-horn or short-horn, 
long pedigree or no pedigree, it mattered not, for a cow 
was a cow, a sheep a sheep, and a hog most indisputably 
a hog then as now, here as elsewhere, and valued accord- 
ing to the amount of fat that could be forced upon him. 
Each farm acquired its herd, heterogeneous though it 
were, and butter-making became the principal industry. 
Cheese was made to some extent by owners of large 
dairies, say of sixty or a hundred cows; still, butter was 
by far the larger product, and its quality became an im- 
portant factor in establishing the reputation of "Oneida 
county butter" in the New York market, where it is 
noted for its superior excellence to-day. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN S5 

For many years the price of butter seldom exceeded 
ten cents or a shilling a pound, and often sold as low 
as sixpence. The entire season's proceeds of a good- 
sized dairy are known to have been less than forty 
dollars. Buyers about here were numerous, and to 
these "butter merchants," as they were termed, often 
was entrusted on consignment the entire product of 
the dairy to take to New York in the fall; and then 
the farmer for months patiently awaited his return, 
when he was finally obliged to accept such amount as 
the merchant claimed he was able to market for, less 
the inevitable commission for selling. With the liv- 
ing expenses of his family for a year or more charged 
against him at the store, and perhaps a payment due 
on his farm, should the farmer demur in disappoint- 
ment and dissatisfaction, the tender-hearted merchant 
would relate with tear-dimmed eye and choking voice 
that tubs of butter were piled on the wharves in New 
York as high as the buildings; and how he had labored 
to have theirs in particular taken off his hands, thus 
spending the whole winter in the city trying to sell 
the output consigned to him. Then, to propitiate 
in a measure the natural disappointment, the mer- 
chant would reach down into the depths of a capacious 
coat-tail pocket and draw therefrom a new bandana 
handkerchief, or perhaps a fancy snuff-box, as a 
present to the woman of the house— possibly her sole 
recompense for days of patient labor in the dairy — 
while she must now, with other members of the family, 
forego the few coveted and needful things they had 
expected to be able to possess when the "butter money 
came in." 

The local merchants also were large buyers and 
shippers of butter. The farmer would trade with a 
merchant, buying practically all his store supplies 



S6 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

from him on credit, and in the fall turn his butter over 
to be sold at the best price obtainable, from which 
sum to deduct his account and pay to him the balance; 
or perchance, as often happened, his indebtedness 
would amount to more than the proceeds from the 
sale of the butter, so that several years would some- 
times elapse before the account could be balanced. 

And yet, most families were to an extent independent 
of the tradesman or merchant. Their own cattle, 
sheep, swine and poultry provided the necessary meats ; 
the maple trees their sugar and syrup; and the busy 
bees a store of honey. Nevertheless, there were 
some necessaries that the farm could not supply, and 
among these may be mentioned salt and sole-leather. 
Trips were made to Salt Point — afterward Salina, 
now a part of Syracuse — usually in winter, crossing 
Oneida Lake on the ice, the sleighs loaded with pro- 
duce to be exchanged for salt, on a basis of three dol- 
lars a barrel. It was essential that two or more ac- 
company each load on these occasions, in order that 
one might guard the sleigh while the other bargained 
for salt; for some of the "salt boilers" were somewhat 
covetous of other people's goods. 

Sole-leather, when bought outright, cost three 
shillings a pound; though hides, as we have elsewhere 
shown, were often tanned on shares, by the slow and 
only process known at that period. From the time 
the raw hide was first taken in hand until the leather 
was fully dried, not less than a year was consumed in 
producing the best quality of sole-leather. 

Our forefathers were constitutionally slow to accept 
innovations. Any tool, implement, or household 
utensil invented or improved for the purpose of lessen- 
ing toil, or easing the exertion of farm and domestic 
labor, was not received with general favor when first 



HISTORY OF REA/[SEN 57 

introduced. Wedded to the old ways, which they 
considered best, they were loth to adopt new or un- 
tried methods, nothwithstanding they might bear 
promise of lightening their tasks, saving time, and 
rendering their homes more comfortable. Even stoves 
were not introduced into the households here previous 
to 1835, for many believed their use detrimental to 
health and would not allow them in their homes. 
The first grain-cradle brought to this section was 
owned by Joseph Halstead, a kindly, generous-hearted 
man who, after cutting his own grain, would often 
urge the loan of the cradle upon his neighbors when 
he saw them in their fields harvesting with that an- 
cient and back-breaking implement of husbandry, 
the sickle; but some declined his offer, believing that 
this new device tended to wastefulness, since it did 
not cut the straw so closely to the earth as did the 
sickle. When Sylvester Burchard began to make 
cast-iron plows, there were farmers who hesitated to 
use them through fear that the iron would "poison 
their land." They declared that the dust worn from 
the iron would pollute the soil, and crop failures where 
all-cast plows had been used were attributed to this 
cause. When wash-boards came into use in this 
locality, there were women who would not use them 
because they thought they would wear out the clothes 
more rapidly than did the old method of soaping a 
garment, then with the hands rubbing one part against 
another in the water, until the entire fabric was gone 
over and all dirt and stains removed. The use of a 
mop was considered a most slovenly way of cleaning 
a floor, and those who resorted to its use were thought 
to be unduly averse to work, or over regardful of their 
hands, their knees and their backs. 

And this work it may be observed, was not thought 



58 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

beneath the dignity of the matron and daughters of 
the family to perform. There were few "servants," 
nor were there class distinctions founded on the char- 
acter of the work one was called upon to do; for all 
honest labor faithfully done was considered commenda- 
ble. The virtue of industry was taught betimes to 
the children of the household, and they were warned 
to shun idleness as a degrading vice. The young 
girls of the family were early taught to spin, even 
before their stature would permit their hands to reach 
the spinning-wheel "head." To make the task pos- 
sible for these, a plank would be laid beside the wheel, 
with one end elevated by a block of wood of sufficient 
height to permit the youthful spinner to reach the 
spindle; and here for hours, with forward and back- 
ward step, she would walk the plank, spinning her 
"stint" of knots. The boy had his "chores" to do, 
which must be attended to regularly and systematic- 
ally, thus establishing in his character the foundation 
of invaluable qualities. When not needed at home, 
it was customary for the farmers' daughters to assist 
in the household work of other families, they taking 
for the time being the position of membership in such 
family. 



CHAPTER IV 

LAND GRANTS AND TITLES 

Concerning the subject of land grants, it should be 
borne in mind that when recorded history first sheds 
a ray of light on the subject, this region was a part of 
a large and indefinite territory now comprised in 
several states of our Union, which constituted the do- 
main of the Five Nations. The counselors of these 
warriors met for conference at Genesee, at Oneida, 
and at Onondaga. Their council-fires gleamed with- 
in sight from the summit of Starr's Hill, which also 
overlooks a portion of Oneida Lake, one of their fav- 
orite fishing resorts. Their armies marched from the 
Mohawk to the Miami, and there was none to dis- 
pute their supremacy over the vast stretches of mag- 
nificent forests where their arms had made them 
masters. 

Forty-two years after the discovery of America by 
Columbus, Jaques Cartier landed at Hockalega, now 
Montreal, where on the banks of the St. Lawrence 
he erected the cross and planted the French flag. 
Ignoring the Papal Bull of Pope Alexander VI, he 
proclaimed in the names of Jesus and Mary and of 
Francis I of France, that he took possession of "That 
river and all the lands adjoining it, and its tributaries 
near and remote." The same claim and right was 
re-asserted by Champlain, at the founding of Quebec, 
in 1608. The English, under Gosnold, had entered 
Chesapeake Bay in 1607, and the Dutch, in the person 
of Henry Hudson, entered the river that bears his 



6o HISTORY OF REMSEN 

name in 1609, each claiming the adjacent territory for 
their respective monarchs. 

Now Remsen is located on the dividing ridge or 
summit which separates the waters that flow to Lake 
Ontario from those that find their way to the Hudson, 
its streams being thus tributary to both the St. Law- 
rence and Hudson rivers. West Canada creek, the 
largest tributary of the Mohawk, forms a portion of 
the eastern boundary of the township, and Black river, 
forming the northern boundary, empties into Lake 
Ontario, its waters thence flowing through the St. 
Lawrence to the gulf. A portion of the waters fo 
the township of Steuben, as originally formed, find 
their way to Chenango river, thence through the 
Susquehanna to Chesapeake Bay. So it may be said 
that Remsen and its environs were once claimed, 
through alleged right of discovery, by three monarchies 
of the old world. 

From the arrival of Champlain upon the St. Lawrence 
until after the conquest and treaty of 1762, a large 
portion of our state was within the definite bounds of 
French Canada, or in a more extended geographical 
designation. New France. However, long before the 
conquest and fall of New France, both the English 
provinces of Massachusetts and New York passively 
claimed title, under conflicting charters. Those upon 
which Massachusetts based her claim were granted 
by King James I, of England, in 1620, and by Charles 
I, in 1628. These embraced all the tenitory between 
the forty-second and forty-fourth degrees north lati- 
tude, extending from the Atlantic ocean on the east 
to the Pacific ocean on the west. This vast grant 
was called New England. The Province of New York 
was claimed under a charter from Charles II to the 
Duke of York and Albany, whereby was granted all 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 6i 

the lands extending from a line twenty miles easterly 
of Hudson river, northerly to Canada, southerly to 
Delaware Bay, and westerly to the Pacific. Thus, 
after the conquest of New France, the domain of Rem- 
sen and vicinity was definitely owned by the British. 
We have no knowledge that it was ever even tran- 
siently occupied by any white being until several 
years after the revolution. And yet, while these 
hills and valleys were still wrapped in the embrace of 
primeval solitude, war was waged on every side. 
Years before its first permanent white settler appeared, 
the distant murmur of the guns at Fort Williams— 
afterward Fort Stanwix, now Rome — awoke the echo 
of these hills. French and English troops, richly 
caparisoned, Indian warriors in paint and plumage, 
traversed the lakes and streams in their batteaus, or 
marched along the trails of the Red Men from the 
Mohawk to Onondaga, to Oswego, and Frontenac, 
touching our very borders.* Later, the great polit- 
ical tempests of revolutionary times roared and 
thundered within hearing distance, and the drums and 
bugles of war sounded on every side. Cannonading 
at Schuyler, at Oriskany, and at Stanwix startled the 
wilderness. There were treaties, alliances, plots and 
conventions within a day's journey of Remsen, while 
we are left but a single skirmish amidst these stirring 
scenes to refresh our "parching chronicles;" for the 
utmost that can be said for Remsen in setting up a 
claim to revolutionary distinction is that on its eastern 

* On November 12, 1757, an expedition under the command of 
M. de Belletre, composed of about three hundred marines, Cana- 
dians and Indians, which had traversed the wilderness by way of 
Black river, attacked and destroyed the Palatine settlements on the 
north side of the Mohawk river, at or near the present village of 
Herkimer. Unquestionably, this expedition passed throu}i;h Steuben, 
and probably put through the military road, traces of which, Mr. 
Simon Fuller tells us, were found by the first settlers in the township. 



62 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

border the tory captain, Walter Butler, met the retri- 
bution his crimes deserved. 

Albany county was the first civil division of the 
commonwealth to which Remsen was subject. On 
March 12, 1772, Tryon county was set off from Albany 
county, the name being changed six years later to 
Montgomery county. On March 8, 1778, the town- 
ship of Whitestown was formed from that of German 
Flats, and was bounded east by a line crossing the 
Mohawk river at Utica, opposite the present site of 
Bagg's Hotel, running thence north to Canada, and 
south to the Pennsylvania state line. Although 
Whitestown as then formed included the entire portion 
of the state west of that line, the new township con- 
tained less than two hundred inhabitants. Thirty- 
two years later, however, or in 1810, it had 380,319, 
about 20,000 more than the whole population of Con- 
necticut, Mr. White's native state. 

This new township included all the present terri- 
tory of Steuben, and the western half of Trenton; but 
Remsen as subsequently formed, was too far east to 
be included. When Oneida county was erected, the 
old Whitestown line was thrown eastward to the 
county's present boundary, and thus it was that Rem- 
sen's territory was set off from Norway, Herkimer 
county, in 1798. Its area embraced portions of land 
gaining title from several old patents, namely : Adgate's 
Eastern Tract; Woodhull's Patent, a tract about 
eight miles square; Remsenburgh Patent; and small 
portions of Service's Patent and the Steuben Grant. 
Woodhull's was situated north of Remsenburgh Patent 
and the Black river, and Adgate's was north of Wood- 
hull's. The township of Forestport, which was orig- 
inally a part of Remsen, is comprised wholly of por- 
tions of these two patents. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 63 

The original patentee of Adgate's tract was Matthew 
Adgate, who in 1798 was vested with title to 43,907 
acres. 

The Remsenburgh Patent, consisting of 48,000 acres, 
was partly in Oneida county and partly in Herkimer 
county, and was granted December 28, 1787, to Henry 
Remsen, J. G. Klock, George Klock, John Van Sice and 
Dirck Van Ingen. They had presented a petition to 
the legislature, stating that lands had been conveyed to 
them by deed, dated May 28, 1766, and recorded in the 
office of the Secretary of State. An act was passed May 
5, 1786, authorizing the issue of "A patent of any un- 
granted or unlocated lands, in one parcel, if such a large 
parcel can be located." So the patent was issued ac- 
cordingly. 

The greater part of Service's Patent was comprised 
within the township of Trenton. It was granted in 
1768, by Sir Henry Moore, governor of the Colony of 
New York, ostensibly to "Peter Service and twenty- 
four others, tenants," but in reality for the benefit of 
Sir William Johnson. 

Early in the eighteenth century a considerable part 
of the cultivated land in the Province of New York, and 
much that was yet uncultivated, was divided into large 
manorial possessions, obtained from the government by 
men of superior sagacity and influence. Many of these 
manorial grants were primarily made to obscure indi- 
viduals, and by them transferred to some government 
favorite or officer of rank. This procedure was for the 
purpose of evading the "Lords Commissioners for Trade 
and Plantations," a board constituted of fifteen mem- 
bers and their successors appointed by King William, 
in 1689, and continued in force until the close of the 
American revolution. 

Sir William Johnson, following the custom of the 



64 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

times, acquired to himself by a succession of ingenious 
manipulations vast tracts of valuable land. On one 
occasion he prepared a great feast or barbecue, to which 
he invited "Peter Service and his twenty-four associ- 
ates," together with a large number of the other male 
inhabitants of the Mohawk Valley, with their wives and 
children. When all at the feast were in the best of 
spirits, he arranged for a transfer of the Service Patent 
to himself, he having doubtless furnished the money and 
exerted the necessary influence for its procurement. 
"Although there is no record of this conveyance from 
Service to Sir William," says one authority, "his title 
has never been disputed save once, and then by Service 
himself, who, after the revolution, hearing that Sir John 
Johnson had buried his title deeds during the war to pre- 
vent their destruction, brought an action of ejectment 
against Boon ; but the court allowed verbal evidence to 
be given of his conveyance to Sir William, and Service 
was defeated. The witness to prove the conveyance 
from Service to Sir William was an old negro, who was 
employed to fiddle for the guests at the feast." 

After the death of Sir William, and prior to the revo- 
lution, his son. Sir John Johnson, and other heirs, sold 
the Service Patent, consisting of 23,609 acres, to sev- 
eral gentlemen living in New York city; so it was not 
confiscated with the property of the Johnsons in the 
Mohawk Valley. Between 1790 and 1800, this with 
other tracts was conveyed to Gerrit Boon and others, in 
trust, and on March 24, 1801, Mr. Boon and his col- 
leagues conveyed the Patent formally to the Holland 
Land Company, an act having been passed by the legis- 
lature in 1798, authorizing conveyances to aliens for the 
term of three years. This conveyance was made only 
a few days before the expiration of the act by its own 
limitation. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 65 

Peter Service was a relative of the first wife of Sir 
William Johnson, and twenty-four of the other partners 
were Sir William's tenants or hired retainers. Records 
do not show who conveyed "to Gerrit Boon and others." 
In 1795, what remained of the Service Patent was di- 
vided into one hundred and ninety-one lots, by Calvin 
Guiteau, surveyor. 

The Steuben Grant of about 16,000 acres was granted 
to Baron Steuben, in 1786, by the State of New York, 
out of territory recently purchased from the Oneida In- 
dians. It was erected into a separate township and 
named for him. 

The following account of a journey made in 1792 by 
John Lincklaen, an agent of the Holland Land Company, 
is of interest, since it gives not only a glimpse at condi- 
tions prevailing in this vicinity at that time, but also is 
enlightening concerning the uncertainty of land titles 
then. Lincklaen was accompanied by Gerrit Boon, and 
they traveled through the forest from Otego creek, in 
the township of Hartwick, Otsego county, visiting the 
various patents for the purpose of acquiring informa- 
tion concerning the newly opened tracts through per- 
sonal investigation. Leaving Otego creek April 22, 
they had reached the Holland Grant on the 25th, whence 
they followed a road that led them to Steuben's Patent, 
or to quote from Lincklaen's journal: — 

"On the 26, we followed the road leading to Baron 
Steuben's patent, and arrived there at the house of one 
of his farmers [superintendent] Samuel Sizer. 

"The Baron's patent is of 16,000 acres, but 6,000 acres 
are already part sold, part leased out. He asks 1 Dlr 
the acre money down, and 10 Shlg's at five years credit. 
Already fifteen families are established there. The 
Baron has sixty acres cleared of the best quality, which 
are tilled by three men that he hires by the year. On 
the mountain is an excellent situation for building. 



66 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

which commands a superb view. He has a saw-mill 
built on Steuben creek, but it is now in bad order, be- 
sides in summer there is scarcely enough water. Other- 
wise the patent is generally good ground, but there is 
very little pine. 

"Went through Holland's Patent*, south of Steuben's; 
this patent is superb, the land is extremely rich and 
everywhere intersected with little brooks and springs of 
soft water; the land is level, there being but two hills, 
which are of no consequence. On account of not know- 
ing who the proprietor is, the patent is not yet settled, 
however some ten families have risked taking posses- 
sion of the land near Nine Mile Creek. They say there 
are 20,000 acres, & that Charles Fox now has the dis- 
posal of it. The patent of Service [Trenton] to the east 
is said to surpass even Holland's; a little part that we 
have seen is not to be excelled by anything so far as land 
is concerned, but the greatest drawback to the patent 
as to all others in their environs, is the lack of pine. 
Service's patent is said to belong to an Irishman named 
Dondell, now in New York." 

The township of Steuben was erected by act of the 
legislature April 10, 1792, and extended to the north 
bounds of the state. In March, 1796, the townships of 
Rome and Floyd were taken from Steuben, and in 1797, 
Western and Ley den were erected from its territory. A 
part of Steuben Patent east of Cincinnati creek was 
later annexed to Remsen. Fort Stanwix, now Rome, 
was in the center of the original township as pertaining 
to what is now Oneida county, and the first town meet- 
ing was held at that place. 

* On March 20, 1769, 20,000 acres, probably in Trenton, Marcy, and 
a part of Steuben township not included in the Steuben Patent, 
were granted to Henry Fox, Lord Holland. This was in no way 
connected with the Holland Land Company. Lord Holland when 
young was a gambler and spendthrift, but later in life became influ- 
ential in politics. He died in 1774, and his son Stephen, who suc- 
ceeded to the title, died a few months after. Richard Henry Fox, 
then about a year old, was a grandson of Lord Holland, and suc- 
ceeded to the property. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 67 

The present area of Steuben is 26,126 acres, the 
greater portion of which consists of the Steuben Grant, 
while the southern part includes a portion of the Hol- 
land Patent; and the western, parts of Fonda's and other 
tracts. 

In reference to this township. Rev. John Taylor, who 
visited it in 1802, says in his journal: "A considerable 
part of the lands which are settled, are to hire or lease — 
the inhabitants have not got the right of soil. Ten dol- 
lars is the common price for 100 acres annual rent; but 
most of these leases are for perpetuity. About one- 
third of the people in Steuben are Welsh — who are in- 
dustrious and prudent beyond example. * * Crops 
in this town much injured by rust. Winter wheat is 
open to winter-kill — lands though are very wet. There 
is, however, some low, rich land, of the nature of marsh. 
The prospect on the height of land in this town is very 
extensive." 



CHAPTER V 

HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION 

In quest of a home in the new country, the pioneer 
naturally followed the path of the waterways as the 
most convenient means of ingress, and it was equally 
natural that he should appropriate the fertile bottom- 
lands which he found already cleared of heavy timber 
by freshets and inundations, or perhaps by the abo- 
riginal owners of the soil. Here he staked his claim 
and built his cabin, and because of the comparatively 
easy adaptation of these lands to agriculture, other 
locations in the highlands and more remote from these 
natural lines of travel were left to the later comer. 
Hence this region remained without an inhabitant 
long after neighboring localities were permanently 
settled, though comparatively few miles of forest 
intervened. 

The journey of the immigrants to the interior of 
the state from New York city was made in sailing 
boats up the Hudson to Albany, thence by teams 
across country to Schenectady, where fiat-boats were 
procured to take them up the Mohawk river. These 
flat-boats were eighteen or twenty feet long, eight 
feet wide, and of about five tons burden. They were 
manned by crews of four each, two men on either 
side, who propelled the boat by means of push-poles; 
one end of the long pole being placed against the bank, 
or on the bed of the river, while the other end rested 
against the shoulder of the "poleman," who thus 
walked the boat from bow to stern pressing the weight 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 69 

of his strength against it. To prevent the boat from 
receding during temporary stops there were two poles 
fastened on either side of it by means of pins or pivots, 
and these hung diagonally toward the stern, their 
lower ends being sufficiently weighted to keep them 
upon the bottom of the river when the boat was not 
in motion. As it advanced they floated free, but 
when the forward motion ceased, the weighted ends of 
the poles settled to the bottom of the stream and 
held the craft stationary against the current — hence 
they were called "setting poles." 

At the rifts there were usually extra men in waiting, 
who made the work of assisting these boats through 
the strong currents their occupation. Often at these 
places, when the nose of the unwieldly boat would 
plow under the water, and the craft at last wheel 
about in spite of setting poles and swearing, and go 
swirling to the foot of the rapids again, every human 
being who could pull was sent ashore to lay hold of a 
long rope and by united force tow it up again. Some- 
times, where the condition of the banks would admit 
of their use, oxen were brought into requisition for 
this purpose. Six days were thus consumed in making 
the journey from Albany to Old Fort Schuyler. 

The first settlers in Remsen, as we have shown, 
were mostly from New England; though among those 
closely following the pioneers were several families 
from the eastern counties of our state. All of them, 
however, came first to Albany, thence to Schenectady, 
and up the Mohawk as we have described, finally to 
follow the trails up West Canada creek, or a line of 
marked trees along the valley of the Cincinnati. 

Before the construction of turnpike roads, such 
highways as then existed were merely rude passage- 
ways through the sparsely settled country, rough at 



70 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

all seasons, but in spring and fall well-nigh impassable. 
Often the early emigrants were obliged to stop in 
their progress for hours to construct a temporary 
bridge whereby to cross a stream; and sometimes it 
became expedient to travel together in considerable 
numbers for the purpose of mutual assistance in cross- 
ing streams, passing swamps, and ascending steep 
hills. 

Oxen attached to roughly made carts or sleds was 
the most common mode of conveyance. Wheeled 
vehicles were rare, even in the older settled communi- 
ties. In 1789, only three years before Barnabas 
Mitchell settled here, the first wagon was brought 
to Meriden, Conn., his former home. This vehicular 
novelty was owned by a Mr. Ezra Rice, and is said 
to have been of very rude construction, simply a 
square-framed box on four wheels. It was drawn by 
two horses, with ropes for traces and cords for guid- 
ing lines. Previous to that time there had been owned 
in Meriden only three two-wheel carriages, which 
are described as "rude, awkward, chaise-bodied or 
uncovered seats, hung on two wheels in the manner 
of the later chaises." And it was as late as 1784, only 
eight years before Mr. Mitchell came here, that the 
first public stage was operated in the state of Con- 
necticut. It ran through Meriden, along the old 
country road.* 

In those days few traveled for pleasure. By far 
the greater proportion of those who did travel were 
in search of homes in the newly opened patents, where 
land was cheap, and these made their journey in the 
manner we have described. Itinerant preachers, 
schoolmasters, artisans of various trades in search 

* "Historical Sketches of Meriden," by G. W. Perkins, 1849; and 
Barber and Howe's "History of Connecticut." 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 71 

of employment, peddlers, and an occasional mendi- 
cant made their way from town to town on foot. 

Among the early projected highways through this 
region was one to extend from the Mohawk, at Little 
Falls to High Falls (now Lyons Falls), on Black river, 
passing through Steuben. In 1791 this measure was 
urged upon the legislature by Baron Steuben and Arthur 
Noble — the latter of whom owned upwards of 40,000 
acres in Herkimer county — and received a favorable 
report, but no further action was taken. The hope 
of diverting the Canadian fur trade from Montreal 
to Albany and New York was prominently urged as 
a motive by its promoters. 

In 1798 a road was cut through by one Jordan, at 
the expense of the Castorland Company, from Rome 
to High Falls, passing through Steuben. It was 
known in this section as the "French Road."* As 
its course lay across the subsequent current of travel 
it fell into disuse for general traffic, and the northern 
portion was abandoned some years later. 

When Gerrit Boon came to Trenton from Fort 
Schuyler, in 1793, he marked a line of trees until he 
reached the junction of Cincinnati and Steuben creeks, 
afterwards the location of Olden Barneveld, or Trenton 
village, as it was afterward called. The course thus 
marked by him in his journey was later chosen for a road. 

The late Didymus Thomas, in an historical address 
delivered at Remsen in 1851, says that "Shubael 
Cross left the valley of the Mohawk at Utica, and 

* "Traces of an old road, following nearly a north and south di- 
rection, were noticed by the early settlers in Steuben. Articles of 
camp equipage and arms — kettles, a sword, musket, etc., — were 
found. It was thought a French expedition had passed through 
here during the F'rcnch and Indian war. Subsequently a highway 
was laid out through the town n(;ar th(; course of this old road, and 
it has always been designated the 'French Road." — Simeon li. 
Fuller. 



72 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

with his family struck into the forest; and along the 
valley of Cincinnati creek followed a line of marked 
trees through the present village of Remsen." This 
was in March, 1794. 

The road from Steuben to Remsen village was 
opened about 1794, or possibly a little earlier, by 
men in the service of Baron Steuben, to provide a 
way for settlers on his patent to reach the primitive 
saw-mill constructed about this time at Remsen 
falls, the mill built by the Baron on Steuben creek 
a few years earlier having proved a failure owing to 
insufficient water-power. 

In 1794-95 the Holland Land Company cut a road 
through the valley of the Cincinnati, under the di- 
rection of the Company's sub-agent, Capt. Andrew 
Edmunds. It extended from Trenton to Boonville, 
where in the latter year a settlement called "Boon's 
Upper Settlement" was made. Of the roads in this 
section diverging from this main highway about 1801, 
was one leading to the east, crossing the Cincinnati 
about half a mile south of Remsen, and nearly oppo- 
site the site where later stood the house of Rev. Rich- 
ard Jones. Crossing the creek by a rude log bridge, 
the road thence diverged to the northeast for a short 
distance, until reaching the hill where stands the 
John G. Jones stone house, which elevation it ascended 
far enough to avoid the marshy ground, when it bore 
to the south-east and followed for some distance the 
present line of the Mohawk and Malone railroad. 

This highway was only the width of a wagon track, 
and of the kind known as "corduroy;" that is, it was 
built of logs a foot or less in diameter, laid crosswise 
the track and the interstices filled with turf. It 
opened up for settlement several lots on the Service 
Patent, which were soon thereafter occupied. An- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 73 

other log bridge spanned the creek opposite the house 
of WilHam Piatt, he having purchased from the Hol- 
land Company in 1799 land that extended east of the 
stream; and this bridge also gave access to the clear- 
ings of Robert Jones (Tyddyn-y-Felin) and Morris 
Jones (Felin Chwelog), who in 1801 settled at the top 
of the hill, one on either side of the road. To these 
clearings was as far as this road extended until 1804 
or 1805, when Broughton White made a survey con- 
tinuing it to intersect with the State road near Pros- 
pect. He was aided by Robert M. Jones, then a boy, 
who accompanied him on horseback to mark the trees 
as he directed. 

What is known as the "State road" was so called 
because it was constructed by the state from the pro- 
ceeds of a lottery, which was authorized in 1803 to 
raise $41,500, for the purpose. It extends from Johns- 
town through the Black river country to Sacket 
Harbor, crossing West Canada creek at what was 
formerly known as "Boon's Bridge," at the present 
village of Prospect. It traverses the township of 
Remsen diagonally, passing a mile or so east of the 
village; and about four miles north, it later was in- 
tersected by the Utica and Black River Turnpike. 
The latter road was built before the war of 1812, 
under the supervision of Col. Thomas Hicks, of Trenton. 

The charter for the construction of the Mohawk 
Turnpike, along the north bank of the Mohawk river 
from Schenectady to Utica, was granted in 1806. 
The work was completed a few years later, and it 
became a part of the great east and west highway 
from Albany to Buffalo. After its completion, trav- 
elers to this section were relieved of the necessity of 
"poling" boats up the Mohawk, to which laborious 
task passengers often lent a willing hand. 



74 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

The "Northern Plank Road Company" was or- 
ganized in 1845, with a capital stock of $30,000. By 
September, 1848, the stock was all subscribed, and 
the road completed to "Hicks' Tavern" (known also 
as the Black River House) four miles north of Remsen 
village. From that point other companies continued 
the road to Martinsburgh and Watertown. Its course 
did not vary much from that of the old turnpike, 
though the heavy ascent of Deerfield hill was avoided 
by verging to the east. The road was graded the 
width of two tracks, but only one was planked ; and when 
completed, it was announced that "loaded teams can 
easily keep on a trot when the ascent is not more 
than one foot in fourteen." Here was the beginning 
of "fast freight" transportation in this section. It 
was a toll road, with gates at intervals of about four 
miles. 

The first mail-route north from Utica was estab- 
lished January 19, 1804, and Daniel Gould is said to 
have been the first mail-rider. He was soon suc- 
ceeded by Reuben Chase, and one trip each week 
was made from Utica to Brown ville, in Jefferson county. 
Barnabas Dickinson, of Denmark, Lewis county, was 
the next carrier, and by him a two-horse vehicle was 
placed upon the route for the accommodation of 
travelers, prior to which time the mail had been car- 
ried on horseback. About 1812 or 1814, "Parker & 
Co." ran a line of stages, and were succeeded by 
others in the business. In January, 1824, E. Backus 
and Ela Merriam, with N. W. Kinniston and John 
Mcllwain began carrying the mail. The speediest 
stage trip from Utica to Sacket Harbor over this 
route was made on Thursday, February 19, 1829, 
when the route was covered in nine hours and forty- 
five minutes, the mail being changed at every office. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 75 

The time consumed in stops amounted to thirty-nine 
minutes — distance ninety-three miles, snow two and 
a half feet deep. 

The mail in those days was far from heavy, for 
many years the cost of postage was governed by the 
distance carried, and to many families this was a bar 
to frequent correspondence between them and others 
they had left behind, or to those who had gone to 
make their home in the more remote west. On May 
1, 1799, a postal law went into effect that was con- 
tinued without material change for many years. Sec- 
tion 2 of that act, after specifying the limitations as 
to size and quantity of paper that constituted a letter, 
established the following rates: "Every such letter, 
conveyed not exceeding forty miles, eight cents; over 
forty and not exceeding ninety miles, ten cents; over 
ninety and not over one hundred and fifty miles, 
twelve and a half cents; over one hundred and fifty, 
and not beyond three hundred miles, seventeen cents; 
over three hundred, and within five hundred miles, 
twenty cents; and for all over five hundred miles, 
twenty-five cents." The postage could be prepaid 
or not. When not prepaid, a bill for the postage 
accompanied the letter to be paid by the addressee. 
Thus the settler from New England, or other distant 
locality, might pay a good round sum in postage an- 
nually if his friends chose to send him the home news- 
paper. 

The earliest stages were merely rough wagons, 
lacking every comfort for the traveler. Open to the 
elements, and without springs to ease the jolts en- 
countered by running over stones, roots of trees and 
deep ruts in the poorly constructed highways, they 
afforded a most unpleasant and wearisome mode of 
travel. 



le HISTORY OF REMSEN 

In course of time, however, an improved and com- 
paratively luxurious stage-coach took the place of 
the old rough wagon. With increase of travel, and 
better roads, came the "coach and four," and often 
even "six" horses. The coach body was supported 
upon strap-springs, which gave it when upon the 
road a dipping, rocking, swinging motion, like the 
nest of a bird on a wind-swayed bough. At the rear, 
in a leather-covered rack called the "boot," the trav- 
elers' baggage was stowed. With the advent of the 
more elaborate stage-coach, came also in a correspond- 
ing degree an increase of importance to the driver, 
both in his own estimation and in the opinion of the 
public. His trips brought him directly from "the 
city," upon his dexterity in handling the reins de- 
pended the safety to life and limb of his passengers; 
he made trips according to a schedule, usually arriv- 
ing on time; and above all, as there was no telegraph 
and but few newspapers in circulation, he was the 
principal conveyor of news. So why should he not 
be considered a character of no little dignity and con- 
sequence? 

The arrival of the stage at the village was the great 
event of the day. The driver would sound his horn 
as he approached, and there would be a hurried run 
to the "Tavern" by men and boys to see who had 
arrived, and to learn the momentous news of the day. 
With a loud crack of his long-lashed whip over the 
heads of his four or six-horse team to accelerate their 
speed through the town, the driver would circle up 
to the door of the tavern with a grand flourish, throw 
the reins to a hostler in waiting, and descending from 
his high seat on the top of the coach, walk with the 
dignity of a general into the house. It was not until 
he had removed the dust and grime of the trip, and 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 77 

sauntered back to the bar-room, that any could have 
the boldness to ask for "news." 

In 1844, on the occasion of the National Democratic 
Convention at Baltimore, a prominent Democrat of 
the village, aided by several other enthusiasts, wheeled 
an anvil — which served as a cannon on Fourth of 
July, and other occasions of rejoicing — to a convenient 
place on the bank of the creek near the hotel, just 
before the arrival of the stage. When it came in, 
this local leader of the Democracy approached the 
driver with great deference, asking if he could tell 
him the nominee of the Baltimore convention. 

"James K. Polk," the driver answered. 

"Polk, Polk, Polk, who in h — is Polk!" he exclaimed; 
and then turning to his companions continued, "Well, 
he must be a Democrat, anyway, so fire away boys!" 

The first vehicle with a body supported by springs 
ever seen in these parts was the coach of Joseph Bona- 
parte,* erstwhile king of Naples and of Spain, who 
made periodical journeys through here from his home 
in New Jersey to visit his countryman and fellow 
exile, Le Ray de Chaumont, at the latter's estate in 
Jefferson county. The coach hung on heavy leather 
straps similar to those the later stage coaches were 
provided with. 

Among the leading stage lines out of Utica in 1830, 
was that to Sacket Harbor and Ogdensburg, via Rem- 
sen, Denmark and Watertown. It was advertised 
to "Leave Utica every day from nine to ten A. M., 
through in one day to Sacket Harbor, distance 94 
miles; through in two days from Utica to Ogdensburg 

* In 1818 Joseph Bonaparte, who in the United States assumed 
the title of Count de Survilliers, entered into a bargain with James 
Le Ray de Chaumont for some thousands of acres of the Lc Ray 
estates, for which there is supposed to have passed certain court 
diamonds brought from Spain. 



78 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

(about 120 miles), intersecting the Ogdensburg stages 
at Denmark and Watertown, Monday, Wednesday 
and Friday." 

The canals which finally joined our lakes with the 
waters of navigable rivers were projected soon after 
settlement was well advanced throughout the central 
and western portions of the state; and until the early 
system was completed, their establishment was from 
time to time ably advocated. The Western Naviga- 
tion Company was incorporated March 4, 1792, with 
power to improve the channel of Mohawk river, and 
to build a canal to Lake Ontario and Seneca Lake. 
Construction of the Erie canal was begun at Rome, 
July 4, 1817, and was completed in October, 1825, 
at a cost of $7,143,789. The event was celebrated 
by civic and military demonstrations from the lakes 
to the sea. As then built the channel was forty feet 
wide at the top, twenty-eight feet at the bottom, and 
of a depth permitting boats to draw four feet of water. 
Its docks were entirely of wood, being made of three 
pieces of timber 6 x 12, set one upon the other edge- 
wise, making three feet of docking. The entire 
length of the canal was three hundred and sixty- 
three miles. 

Concerning the subject of canals, Spafford says of 
Remsen in his "Gazetteer of New York," (1820): 
"And it appears to me, that a canal will by-and-by 
be formed from Black river above the High Falls in 
Turin, locked down to the Mohawk river along the 
valley of West Canada Creek." In 1825, this route 
was noted, with others, in the Governor's message. 
On March 28, 1828, the Black River Canal Company 
was formed, which made a survey from Rome to the 
High Falls, but did nothing more. The former act 
having expired, another was passed April 17, 1832, 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 79 

incorporating the Black River Company, for the 
purpose of connecting the Erie Canal, at Rome or 
Herkimer, by railroads or canals with Ogdensburg, 
Cape Vincent, or Sacket Harbor. Rome was finally 
selected as the point of junction, the Black River 
Canal built, and Remsen left without water com- 
munication with the outside world. 

In December, 1852, the plan for a railroad from 
some point on the New York Central line, through 
the Black river country to the St. Lawrence began 
to be discussed, and notice of a meeting to be held 
at Lowville, January 8, 1853, signed by thirty-four 
prominent citizens of Lewis county, appeared in the 
Northern Journal of Lowville, the week previous to 
that date. This meeting was held accordingly, and 
a committee of five persons from each county interested 
in the project was appointed to collect statistics and 
facts to be reported to future meetings; of which one 
was appointed to be held at Theresa, on the 20th, 
and another at Boonville, on the 26th of the same 
month. 

The meeting at Boonville was attended by those 
representing the claims of Herkimer, Utica and Rome 
for the southern terminus; but the weight of interests 
represented was in favor of the first of these. A 
company was soon formed, under the name of the 
Black River Railroad Company, with a capital of 
$1,200,000, for the purpose of building a railroad 
from Clayton, on the St. Lawrence, by the way of 
Carthage and the west side of Black river and the 
west side of the valley of West Canada creek to Herki- 
mer, a distance of one hundred and twenty miles. 
Three directors were named for each county inter- 
ested, those from Oneida county being Jonah Howe 
and Mather Beecher, both prominent business men 



8o HISTORY OF REMSEN 

of Remsen, and Philip Schuyler, of Boonville. This 
effort on the part of Herkimer immediately excited 
a spirit of rivalry at Utica and Rome, and three days 
after the Boonville meeting, January 29, 1853, the 
Black River and Utica Railroad Company was or- 
ganized at Utica, with a capital of $1,000,000, for the 
purpose of building a railroad from that city to Clay- 
ton, a distance of about one hundred miles. 

The Herkimer company, of which Mr. Beecher 
and Mr. Howe were directors, finally disbanded, and 
a survey for the Black River and Utica Railroad was 
made by Daniel C. Jenne, of Utica. To advance the 
enterprise, $250,000. was raised in Utica, and $100,000 
between Utica and Boonville. The road was char- 
tered January 31, 1853, and the contract for grading 
let August 10th, to be completed in 1854. The cere- 
mony for breaking ground for this railroad took place 
at Utica, August 27, at which addresses were delivered 
by Governor Seymour, Ex-Governor Hunt, and other 
distinguished gentlemen, and the occasion was cele- 
brated by a military parade and general festivities. 
The road was opened from Utica to Boonville, a dis- 
tance of about thirty-five miles, December 15, 1855. 

The company defaulted in 1858, and the road was 
sold under foreclosure March 31, 1860, after which 
it was reorganized as the Utica and Black River Rail- 
road Company. Subsequently the line was extended 
to Carthage, where connections were made with 
branches leading to Lake Ontario and the St. Law- 
rence river, which were afterward operated by this 
road under lease; and on April 4, 1886, with all its 
branches the road was leased in perpetuity to the 
Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad Com- 
pany, and this lease transferred to the New York 
Central Railroad Company, May 1, 1891. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 8i 

The Mohawk and Malone Railroad, which forms 
a junction with the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg 
Railroad at Remsen, was completed throughout with 
its branches, in November, 1892, and leased to the 
New York Central Railroad Company May 1, 1893. 

The first telegraph line through Remsen was con- 
structed along the line of the Utica and Black River 
railroad from Utica to Boonville, in the latter part of 
1864, with no offices opened between these points 
until some years later. 



CHAPTER VI 

INNS AND TAVERNS 

The early inns were located at short distances apart, 
and thus fortunately the traveler could find enter- 
tainment at almost any point where night overtook 
him. Most of the settlers opened their log houses 
to those who were in need of hospitality, and he who 
did not observe the custom of leaving the latch-string 
out to the wayfarer was the exception. The tavern 
succeeded the inn, and differed from it in that the bar 
in the latter was a main equipment. It is worthy of 
note that, while the general public were not restrained 
by law from gratifying their thirst proclivities at will, 
an act was passed by the legislature in April, 1817, 
forbidding stage companies to employ drivers who 
were addicted to the use of alcoholic beverages. 

Prior to the construction of the turnpike, in 1812, 
the "State Road" was the principal thoroughfare 
through the township. Traffic from Johnstown and 
a part of the Mohawk country to settlements as far 
north as the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario passed 
over this route, also numerous families of emigi-ants 
from Vermont and other Eastern States who had 
selected locations for future homes in the more north- 
em wilderness. 

It is recorded in former histories that the first pub- 
lic-house in Remsen was conducted by Ebenezer 
King, who we find was here at least as early as 1796, 
located on the State road three miles or more north- 
east of the present village; but Broughton W. Green 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 83 

is authority for the statement that the first hotel 
keeper was Capt. John Kent. James Sheldon, who 
was here before 1800, subsequently built a stone house 
on his farm on the State road, where was afforded 
accommodations for travelers — the place afterwards 
owned by the late William L. Williams. The other 
hostelries on this road within the township were as 
follows: One just north of Prospect village, conducted 
by Matthew Hoyt; one kept by Hugh Hughes near 
Fairchild; another at the junction of the State road 
with the turnpike, about four miles north of Remsen, 
known in former days as the Black River House, and 
the Higby Tavern, one mile farther north. 

As the number of miles that might constitute a 
day's journey over the rough roads with the crude 
vehicles of the time was extremely problematical, it 
therefore was fortunate for the traveler that houses 
of entertainment were distributed at short intervals. 
Though it was not as a matter of public convenience 
alone that these inns and taverns were maintained, 
but as a business that brought ready cash to the 
proprietor; for notwithstanding the fact that in almost 
every instance he was a farmer as well as an inn- 
keeper, there was little then that the farms would 
produce that could be converted into ready money. 
So it was that much of the cash in circulation here 
was left by travelers who were passing through. 

Nor should it be inferred that the traffic was entirely 
toward the north, for large quantities of potash from 
the northern country was hauled to Albany; also 
sleigh-loads of ciscos and other fish that had been 
taken through the ice of the St. Lawrence, and loads 
of frozen deer-carcasses were hauled south over this 
road, and likewise over the turnpike at a later period. 
These were peddled in the settlements through which 



84 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

they passed, while much of the venison was carried 
to Albany and New England markets. It was no 
uncommon spectacle to see these conveyances from 
six to a dozen or more together, the large sleighs piled 
high with deer-carcasses, often the top of the foremost 
load surmounted by the stuffed skin of a panther 
poised in characteristic and life-like posture, to attract 
the wondering gaze of the inhabitants along the way. 

Next to the minister, the tavern-keeper was the 
most noteworthy man in the community. And in 
the early days the most popular of these was Jacob 
Lewis, familiarly known as "Uncle Jake," who per- 
formed the duties of host here for almost thirty years. 
He was of Mohawk Dutch extraction, bom in the 
Mohawk valley, and originally a blacksmith, a voca- 
tion he followed for a number of years. 

"Uncle Jake" we remember as of medium height, 
very corpulent, with laughing grey eyes, round jovial, 
face, and a double chin fringed underneath with snow- 
white whiskers, rather closely trimmed. His fund 
of ready wit and anecdote rendered him a most genial 
host, and a superior talent for spinning yarns added 
much to his popularity. Had he chosen the vocation 
of sailor in his youth, he probably would not have 
been outdone in the story telling art by any old salt 
on land or afloat. However, though lacking the savor 
of the sea, his yarns were always listened to with eager- 
ness. He delighted to tell of feats he had performed 
as a boy, of his later hair-breadth escapes, and of the 
wonderful things he had seen. He would tell his 
listeners of snow-storms in the Mohawk country that 
piled the forest with snow so deep that the tops of the 
tall pine trees were just visible; of cold snaps, when it 
would freeze so suddenly as to catch the heads of frogs 
that would be peeping out of the warm ponds — he had 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 85 

many times been over the ice and kicked their heads 
off. He would tell of being carried over an eight- 
rail fence on the horns of a vicious bull, and saving 
himself by catching on to the limbs of an apple-tree 
as he passed under it; how in the harvest field, he had 
bound grain so fast that he would hurl a bundle into 
the air, and bind another before the first came to the 
ground. We mention these as samples of the inexhaust- 
ible supply he had on hand to suit every occasion. 

Frequently he had some amusing story concerning 
his Welsh neighbors to tell, especially of their efforts 
to express themselves in English. In the Welsh lan- 
guage the noun usually precedes the adjective, and a 
Welshman having only a slight knowledge of English 
will often use this mode of construction in forming 
his English sentences. The following is rather an 
extreme example related by Uncle Jake as an incident 
of an early first of April morning: He had stepped out 
upon the porch of the hotel, when a Welsh neighbor 
who was passing on the opposite side of the street 
hailed him thus, "Jake Lewis! Jake Lewis!" and then, 
before he could respond, continued, "Fool April; white 
crow on barn — guess not?" 

Everything that Mr. Lewis possessed, according to 
his assertion, was better than anything to which 
his neighbors could lay claim — his steers could draw 
more, his horses endure more, his cows gave more 
and richer milk, his house was the warmest, his barns 
the largest, and his chimney had a better draft than 
that of any other chimney in town. In proof of the 
latter assertion he was wont solemnly to relate the 
following incident: A stranger with a medium sized 
dog at his heels came into his bar-room one morning, 
and as Mr. Lewis and he were engaged in conversa- 
tion, their attention was suddenly attracted by the 



86 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

strange antics of the dog, which in spite of most active 
protests seemed to be drawn irresistibly toward the 
open fn*e-place, and the nearer he approached the fire 
the more violent became his efforts to hold back 
therefrom ; and thus, with his paws braced before him, 
with panting breath and starting eyes, he was sliding 
surely and more and more swiftly toward the open 
fire-place, and, before Uncle Jake and his companion 
could realize the situation, with a pitiful yelp he dis- 
appeared up the chimney. 

He related how the stage from Utica to Sacket 
Harbor came in several hours late one intensely cold 
night in mid-winter, and owing to the extreme cold 
and the bad condition of the roads, it was decided to 
proceed no farther, but to remain in Remsen until 
morning. The stage-driver came into the bar-room, 
hanging upon the chimney the long tin horn with 
which he had heralded by loud blasts his approach to 
the several stopping-places between Utica and Remsen. 
He then, after divesting himself of his heavy wraps, 
proceded to the dining-room. Presently, the occu- 
pants of the bar-room were startled by a loud blast 
from the hom hanging above the fire-place, which, 
before they had recovered from theu' astonishment, 
was succeeded by several more loud "toots." Natur- 
ally the frequenters of the place were struck with 
consternation, and some of the more superstitious 
hastily made for the door. And at this point Uncle 
Jake would explain how he calmed their fears and 
allayed the excitement by assuring them that there 
was nothing supernatural about the matter at all, 
for the blasts that had alarmed them were simply 
the "toots" that had been frozen in the honi, and 
were now released by the genial warmth from his ca- 
pacious fire-place. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 87 

But Uncle Jake's yarns were never spun with in- 
tent to be taken seriously, and often were brought 
into requisition merely to enliven the guest whom 
dullness or homesickness may have settled upon. To 
cap the yarn of a braggart, or to incite a ridiculous 
argument for the amusement of his other guests, was 
to him a keen pleasure. And while his stories may 
now seem trivial, they illustrate the entertaining, 
genial, happy disposition of the man, who was a type 
of landlord never to be met with in these days. 

The first inn-keeper within the limits of the present 
village was Peter Becker. Whence he came we have 
been unable to learn. He settled upon the place now 
owned by John Humphreys, just over the line in Tren- 
ton township, possibly before or shortly after Gerrit 
Boon came to Trenton, which was in 1793; at least 
he was here when Shubael Cross and family, in 1794, 
followed a line of marked trees through the present 
village of Remsen on their way to settle at Crosstown, 
now Bardwell. When he sold his farm to William 
Piatt, in November, 1796, he had cleared about ten 
acres on the flat, and his log inn, which stood near 
the site of the Humphreys house, had been built some 
time. It is possible that he came here in the interest 
of Boon, and may have built or conducted for the 
Holland Land Company the first saw-mill, which was 
built previous to 1795. 

In this latter year James Smith settled on the Mitchell 
place, at the north end of the present village limits, 
and, in 1797, conducted an inn in a house which Judge 
Jones tells us "was built partly of logs and partly of 
boards." About 1800, Oliver Smith built a tavern 
near the center of the village, where later stood the 
residence of Colonel Beecher. 

In 1804, William Piatt built the gambrel-roofed 



88 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

house, now the Humphreys place, which for many 
years he conducted as a tavern. Then, some years 
later, Robert G. Potter kept an inn or tavern on the 
south corner of the Steuben road, and, after his death, 
in 1816, it was conducted by his widow. Joseph 
Halstead kept a tavern about this time in a building 
that stood south of the comer house just mentioned, 
and which was burned previous to 1820. Mr. Hal- 
stead married for his second wife the widow Potter, 
and assumed management of the hotel. He later 
removed to the Jonathan Jones farm, afterward owned 
by William Meth Jones, two miles south of Remsen 
on the turnpike, where he kept a public house for 
several years. He was succeeded on this place, be- 
tween 1830 and 1835, by Owen M. Griffiths. 

Dr. Earl Bill removed to Remsen from Steuben in 
1814, and built the present Gainsway Hotel, which 
he conducted for many years. He was succeeded by 
others, and finally Jacob Lewis became the proprietor 
in the early '40s, and continued as such until 1867. 
He was followed successively by George Dawson, 
Friend Bristol and Frank Gainsway. 

Previous to 1820, Tyler Mitchell built a hotel on 
the south comer of Main street and that leading to 
the depot. This was known as the "Upper Tavern," 
and came under the control of various landlords. Wil- 
liam Hicks ran it as a temperance house in the early 
'50s. He had previously conducted the Black River 
House, north of Remsen, and succeeding him at the 
upper tavern was John Smith, and later William 
Lewis, son of Jacob Lewis, but during his occupancy 
the house was burned, in the winter of 1857-58. 

Oliver Higby, another early resident of the town- 
ship, was proprietor of a hotel located on the turnpike, 
five miles north of the village. Being centrally lo- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 89 

cated as to population, town-meetings were often held 
there before the erection of the township of Forest- 
port. And in former days the fashionable sleigh- 
ride of young society people was a drive to "Higby's," 
with the inevitable oyster-supper and often attendant 
dancing; thither, also, the lads and lassies of the mar- 
ried class frequently found their way. After the 
death of Mr. Higby, his widow and sons conducted 
the house until about 1865. 

Lemuel Hough was an early inn-keeper on the 
turnpike, about two miles north of Remsen, on what 
was then termed "Hough's Hill." And about the 
years 1836 or 1837, Theodore Burchard kept a house 
for the accommodation of travelers at or near the place 
formerly kept by Mr. Hough. We have previously 
mentioned the log inn kept by Juder Crosby, on the 
Pen-y-caerau road, near where the church of that 
name now stands. This inn was built during the 
early settlement of that section. 

A man named Messenger also was an early hotel- 
keeper. He was a champion in the use of the scythe, 
an accomplishment to be proud of in those days before 
the invention of mowing machines. 



CHAPTER VII 

INDUSTRIES 

Every pioneer household was a workshop, and long 
after the pioneer period was past the manufacture of 
linen and woolen cloth was continued in the family. 
In nearly every farmhouse the preparation for the sup- 
ply of winter clothing began with summer, or as early in 
the season as the wool from the sheep's back could be 
picked over, oiled and carded. The spinning of the wool 
for bed blankets, hosiery, underwear and winter clothing 
generally was no light task. All day long throughout 
the summer, the sound of the wheel was as incessant as 
the hum of the bees and the murmur of the waterfall. 

In large families extra help was usually called in dur- 
ing the spinning season, and there would be much rivalry 
among spinners, lending added zest to the work. The 
number of knots a young woman managed to run off in 
a single day, in an industrial sense established her stand- 
ing in the community. Forty threads on the reel made 
a knot, ten knots a skein, two skeins a run, and two 
runs a day's work. The price paid for spinning was six 
shillings a week, including board. 

Following the spinning came the dyeing process, then 
the weaving, and finally the cloth was sent to the fulling- 
mill to be made into fulled cloth, when it was ready for 
men's clothing. The coats and jackets were cut by a 
tailor, who did little else regarding the work, for a tail- 
oress was then employed, who with her goose occupied 
a prominent position during her sojourn with the family; 
day after day she stitched away, until finally the finish- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 91 

ing touches were put on the garments, when she and the 
goose, in a "jumper" or a wood-sleigh, were conveyed to 
the home of some family who was awaiting her services. 

It was in mid-winter that preparations for summer 
clothing began. A cold day, with wind from the north, 
would be selected for breaking the flax — a crushing pro- 
cess to loosen the sheath from the fibre; then the swing- 
ling came, to free the flax from the sheath and coarser 
fibre — all of which labor usually fell to the father of the 
family, for the young hopeful was seldom wont to take 
kindly to the pastime. The flax was spun, and finally 
woven into cloth for table use, bed-linen, towels, and 
for summer wear generally. 

The hides of cattle slaughtered on the farms were 
tanned on shares, and an itinerant shoemaker came in 
to make and mend the boots and shoes of the family. 
His occupation was known as "whipping the cat." 

As the woods were cleared another industry of much 
importance sprang up, the manufacture of potash or 
pearlash. The first ashery in Remsen village was es- 
tablished by Broughton White and his brother-in-law, 
Lemuel Hough, in 1803, on the Steuben road, or Steuben 
street as it is now known, not far from its intersection 
with the turnpike. As the logs and trees throughout 
the vicinity were burned, the ashes were collected, 
brought to town by the wagon-load, and disposed of to 
the ashery. The lye was extracted from the ashes, 
evaporated by boiling to the proper consistency for pot- 
ash, when it was packed in barrels and sent to New 
York, where it was made into saleratus and kindred 
compounds *Potash, or pearl ash, was a cash commod- 

* "The chief article of exportation is Pearl-ash. It sells in New 
York from 50 to (50 £ a ton. They recover from 60 or 70 to 100 
bushels of ashes i)er acre, and it takes 700 bushels to make a ton of 
pot-iish." — Journal of John Lincklaen, 1792. 



92 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

ity and always found a ready market, so it was not long 
before this industry was carried on quite extensively 
here. After Heman Ferry succeeded White & Hough, 
and had acquired the store established by Broughton 
White, the ashery on Steuben street was removed to the 
east bank of the creek, on the south side of the road 
leading to Prospect on past the stone church. Griffith 
W. Roberts, another early merchant, built an ashery 
east of the Piatt mill-pond, where the horse-shed of the 
old Baptist church now stands; and another, owned by 
Andrew Billings, occupied the present site of the Rem- 
sen National Bank. 

All of these were in operation at the same time, and 
for many years produced about the only commodity in 
these parts that could readily be converted into cash. 
Subsequently, Samuel Roby, who located at Ninety Six 
sometime between 1816 and 1820, purchased there a 
large tract of heavily timbered land for the sole purpose 
of converting the timber into potash, employing up- 
wards of twenty men in felling and burning trees for 
this purpose. Throughout this whole region many mil- 
lion feet of choice timber, which would represent to-day 
several fortunes of no mean magnitude, were thus cut 
down and utilized. There was little market for lumber 
at home, and, had one been found elsewhere, there were 
no means of transportation; furthermore, the land had 
to be cleared to obtain sustenance for the rapidly in- 
creasing population, so this only practical method of 
converting their timber into cash was resorted to. The 
boiling of potash was an occupation requiring experience 
and skill, and was as distinctively a trade as that of 
tanner, miller, or maltster. 

Ephraim Hollister, one of Remsen's pioneers, manu- 
factured brick on the Mitchell (Bryn-y-gloch) farm at 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 93 

a very early day, according to the historical address on 
the township delivered by Didymus Thomas. 

The production of quick-lime was an early and impor- 
tant industry in the northern part of Trenton township, 
where in the valley of the Cincinnati were prodigious 
outcrops of limestone. Circular kilns, twenty feet in 
depth and twelve or fifteen feet in diameter, were con- 
structed of the limestone, usually on a hill-side or slight 
elevation, with an opening for draft and for stoking the 
fire-pit at the bottom. The larger stones to be re- 
duced to lime were laid up loosely within the kiln, form- 
ing an arch above the fire-pit, and upon this arch frag- 
ments of limestone were dumped until the kiln was filled. 
Under these arches a fire was maintained day and night 
until the gases had been eliminated and the stones re- 
duced to a calcareous state, when nearly as many days 
were required for cooling before the lime could be han- 
dled. During the process of burning, the lime-kiln was 
a favorite evening gathering place for the farmer boys 
of the locality; and here many a wrestling bout was 
pulled off, and tests of strength, skill and endurance 
displayed in throwing the sledge and kindred sports. 

The first of these kilns constructed here was located 
somewhat over a mile south of Remsen village, on the 
north side of a private road that leads from the turn- 
pike to the place owned by Horace Powell, and the farm 
north of the Powell place. It was built about midway 
between the highway and the farmhouse, and the owner 
and lime burner was a man named Sprague, a revolu- 
tionary veteran, whose log dwelling stood near the kiln. 

Later there were two kilns on the road leading to 
Prospect, north of the private road we have just men- 
tioned. One of these was built by John MacDonald, 
and the other by Thomas Thomas. Still later one 
was built by Thomas about fifty rods south of the 



94 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Pirney stone house, on the east side of the turnpike, 
and his son, the late Evan T. Thomas, of Prospect, 
subsequently owned and operated it for several years. 

In the address of Didymus Thomas we have men- 
tioned, he says that "Shubael Cross constructed the 
first grist mill in town, which was propelled by wind; 
and in place of a stone for grinding, he used a pestle 
to pound and mash the corn. And he put up the 
first saw-mill." These mills were at "Crosstown," 
as Mr. Thomas designates the settlement, in eastern 
Remsen, which later was known as Bardwelltown. 
A saw-mill here was run for many years by David 
and Elias Bardwell, brothers. Prior to their owner- 
ship the settlement was called "Burritt's Mills," 
after a man named Burritt, who had also a small 
grist-mill, which stood just below the saw-mill on the 
bank of the stream. 

The Boon grist-mill, built on Cincinnati creek near 
where the R. W. & 0. railroad now crosses that stream 
at Trenton village, was erected about 1798, by Gerrit 
Boon, at the expense of the Holland Land Company, 
to save settlers the hardship of walking to Whites- 
boro to get their grist ground. The late Vincent 
Tuttle, of Holland Patent, stated that this mill was 
in good order in 1804, though the dam had been car- 
ried away. The location of this dam proving imprac- 
ticable, the Holland Land Company abandoned it 
and built a new dam and mill on Cincinnati creek, a 
few rods below the Parker foundry, at the foot of the 
first fall below the bridge. The company also built 
a saw-mill on the site later occupied by the Parker 
saw-mill. These mills the company sold to Peter 
Schuyler, who owned and ran them several years, 
when he sold to James Parker, a prominent and in- 
fluential settler, who in turn conducted the business 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 



95 



for many years. He ran the mills day and night, 
customers coming from Steuben, Remsen and Boon- 
ville to have their grist ground. Farmers at this 
time raised wheat for their own use and often had 
some to sell; but until the mill at Parker Hollow was 
built, they could obtain no flour without walking to 
Whitesboro, the road being otherwise impassable. 

The first grist-mill at Remsen village was known 
as the Piatt mill, and was built by William and John 
Piatt, occupying the site of the present Remsen Mills. 
The late Mrs. Esther (Piatt) Sawyer, of Hamilton, 
N. Y., in answer to our inquiries concerning the matter 
some years ago, said: "The grist-mill built by Wil- 
liam Piatt and my father was upon the site of an old 
stone mill, built by I know not whom." As to the Piatt 
grist-mill having been built upon the site of an earlier 
one, we believe Mrs. Sawyer to be in error. The 
Platts came into possession of the mill-site and water 
privilege in 1799, and we know that later than this 
the settlers in Steuben, less than a mile away, were 
carrying their wheat upon their backs to Whitesboro 
to be ground. Had there been a mill in Remsen 
before the erection of the Piatt mill this would not 
have been necessary. 

The mill was built presumably between 1806 and 
1809. The machinery was installed by a Mr. Taylor, 
of Oriskany, a mill-wright of some renown. But 
little iron entered into its construction, for the neces- 
sary castings could not be procured nearer than New 
York or Philadelphia. The iron parts, as the mill 
was constructed, consisted of the water-wheel gud- 
geons, the segments on the pit-wheel, and the crown- 
wheel. The bolt-gears, shafts and other parts were 
made of wood, turned in a hand-lathe operated by a 
spring-pole. There were two runs of stone made 



96 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

from a sort of conglomerate of white flint pebbles cut 
for this mill in Chenango county. Some years later 
one of these stones exploded, or was rent asunder by 
centrifugal force, one half being thrown through the 
door into the mill-yard. 

The Platts also built a saw-mill here, occupying 
the site of an earlier one, which may account for Mrs. 
Sawyer's statement. In a map of the Service Patent 
made by Calvin Guiteau in 1795, we find a saw-mill 
marked upon the site of the later Piatt saw-mill, 
possibly of stone, but more likely of logs. This mill 
no doubt was built by some one in the interest of the 
Holland Company, who early saw the advantage of 
utilizing the excellent water-power at these falls, 
and a saw-mill could be more cheaply constructed 
and would serve the most needful purpose the power 
could then be put to, for the settlers were living in 
cabins without doors, because of their inability to 
get sawed lumber. 

Shortly after receiving his grant of 16,000 acres 
from the state, Baron Steuben, through his agent, 
Samuel Sizer, caused a saw-mill to be built on Steuben 
creek, in Steuben township. John Lincklaen, as we 
have previously shown, in company with Gerrit Boon 
made a journey through the forest from Otsego county 
to the Baron's patent in April, 1792, and in describ- 
ing this journey says: "We find the Baron has a saw- 
mill built upon Steuben creek, but it is in bad order. 
Besides, in summer, there is scarcely enough water." 

Prior to 1812, Robert M. Jones constructed a log 
dam and saw-mill in Cincinnati creek near his house 
— now the Pirnie stone house — nearly a mile south of 
the village. It stood about half way between the 
present R. W. & 0. railroad tracks and the bend of 
the creek where it turns south after its course due 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 97 

east about sixty rods, and like all the early saw-mills 
had one upright saw. The road just below, leading 
west from the turnpike at the "lime-kiln place," was 
opened about 1818 for hauling logs to this mill from 
Steuben. The road then ran over the hill, south of 
the line it follows now along the side of the ravine. 
It has been closed and reopened several times. 

Principally to avoid the hauling of logs for long 
distances, saw-mills were erected in different sections 
wherever sufficient water-power could be obtained. 
At an early day one of these was built by Robert M. 
Jones and John Hughes, father of the late Deacon 
Hugh Hughes, on Cincinnati creek, west of the turn- 
pike, between Bethel and what was formerly known 
as the "Higby Tavern." 

Judge Pomeroy Jones mentions in his "Annals of 
Oneida County," "twelve saw-mills in the town of 
Remsen, and two grist-mills — one of the latter run 
by steam-power." Some of these saw-mills, however, 
were in the present town of Forestport. 

The Phelps saw-mill, north of Remsen village, was 
built by Harvey Phelps, father of the late Nathan 
Phelps. We cannot give the exact time it was built, 
though it was some years prior to 1824, for Harvey 
Phelps died in March of that year. After his death 
the mill was conducted by David Aldrich, under a 
twenty-year lease, and, after the expiration of the 
lease, by Harvey Phelps, Jr., and Nathan Phelps. 
The mill was destroyed by fire in March, 1840, but 
rebuilt the following summer. 

About 1822-23, just below the falls on the east 
side of the creek at Remsen village, a smelting furnace 
and foundry was built by Sylvester Burchard. Much 
of the space it occupied is now taken up by the 
railroad embankment at that point. The blast for 



g8 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

reducing the iron to a liquid state was produced by 
the following primitive though highly ingenious device: 
A stream of water passing through a tube from the 
dam above, carried air with it into a chamber where 
the air and water separated, the water running out 
of the cistern while the air rushed through the tweer 
upon the metal and fuel in the bottom of the furnace. 

Mr. Burchard later built a blast-furnace and foun- 
dry farther south, on the same side of the creek, near 
where the road to Prospect passes under the railroad 
tracks. Stoves and plow-points were cast here, and 
Mr. Burchard manufactured plows extensively for 
those days. These supplanted the primitive plow 
with a wooden mold-board, used exclusively in these 
parts up to that time. The blast in this furnace was 
produced by a huge bellows, pumped by horse-power, 
the horse being driven round in a circle after the man- 
ner in the old time bark-mill. In 1835 Mr. Burchard 
sold his business and property to John Perry, of Utica. 
The latter in time was succeeded by Rowland Anthony, 
and the foundry business and blacksmithing was car- 
ried on by him for many years. 

About 1820, or possibly earlier, Heman Ferry built 
a distillery about a quarter of a mile south of the 
village and some ten rods west of the turnpike. His 
first distiller was a Mr. Tuttle, brother of the late 
Vincent Tuttle, who had previously worked in a dis- 
tillery at Parker Hollow, which had been in operation 
some years prior to the building of the Ferry distil- 
lery. Josiah Owen, in after life a prominent farmer 
of Steuben, was distiller for Mr. Ferry many years. 
The Parker distillery stood near the brick house built 
by Timothy Powers, and during the war of 1812 Vin- 
cent Tuttle, under contract with the government, 
manufactured there 250,000 gallons of spirits for the 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 99 

army. This plant had ceased operations before Mr. 
Ferry built here. 

There also was a distillery at Holland Patent be- 
fore Mr. Ferry built at Remsen. The product of 
these distilleries was made from rye and corn, and the 
Ferry plant afforded a convenient market for these 
grains raised in this section. Later, distilleries were 
built in other parts on a larger scale than those we 
have mentioned, and, it having been demonstrated 
that dairying was more profitable in this region than 
the cultivation of grain, the enterprise of whisky- 
making in these townships terminated. 

After the Ferry distillery had been abandoned, 
Robert Griffith (Creigiau), utilized the building for 
brewing ale on a small scale. The venture was un- 
remunerative and short-lived. 

A man named Ensign put up a carding and fulling- 
mill at Parker Hollow. He was succeeded by Timothy 
Powers, who for many years carried on the works, 
serving a large area of country. 

About 1823, after constructing a stone dam, John 
G. Jones built a saw-mill and a grist-mill on the creek 
less than a quarter of a mile south of the village. The 
saw-mill was built on the east side of the stream, and 
the grist-mill on the west side. He soon added to 
the latter a carding, fulling, and cloth-dressing mill, 
equipped with the most complete machinery obtain- 
able at the time; but the undertaking never proved 
a success. The dam was carried away by freshets 
two or three times, and the mill badly damaged; 
finally it was closed, remaining unoccupied for many 
years, and, about 1860, it was burned, whether by 
accident or design was never known. Its walls, 
partially covered with woodbine, remained for almost 
forty years, and like the ruins of some old castle lent 



loo HISTORY OF REMSEN 

a picturesque charm to the landscape. During its 
operation a number of skilled workmen were employed 
here, among them John Griffith, Samuel Groat, and 
a Mr. Murray, of Russia, N. Y. 

A carding, fulling and cloth-dressing mill was early 
established in the village, in a building afterward 
converted into a steam grist and flour-mill. This 
enterprise was founded by Gen. Zalmon Root and his 
son-in-law, Thomas Hawley, and did considerable bus- 
iness for many years. The superintendent's house 
was attached to the mill, on the south, and the dye- 
house stood south of that. Samuel Johnson was at 
one time superintendent, and later it was under the 
management of Benjamin Fairchild and brother. 

About 1850 some of the leading business men of 
the village, among whom was Zalmon D. Root, T. B. 
White and 0. J. Owens, formed a companj^ for the 
purpose of enlarging the cloth-mill building and 
equipping it with modern machinery for manufactur- 
ing flour. Steam power was used in conjunction 
with the water-power furnished by the dam. After 
the Utica & Black River railroad was built, the tracks 
of which skirted the mill-pond on the east, a bridge- 
like structure was built upon the top of the dam be- 
tween the mill and the railroad. Wheat by the car- 
load was brought in and trucked across this bridge 
to the mill, and the flour shipped away in the same 
manner. The head miller or superintendent was A. 
C. Herring. 

The present Remsen Mills were built for Robert 
M. Jones by his son, Cornelius R. Jones, of Syracuse, 
in 1850-1852. The gi'ist-mill had three runs of stones 
and derived its power from a large water-wheel twenty- 
two feet in diameter, known as a "breast-wheel." A 
new saw-mill was also built by them about the same 



HISTORY OF REMSEN loi 

time, and stood north of the grist-mill, parallel with 
the creek. This building has since been removed, 
turned at right angles with the stream, and used for 
other purposes. These mills replaced the Piatt grist 
and saw-mills. Of late years the grist-mill was some- 
what modernized by the more recent owners, Mat- 
thew Jones and Richard Richards. 

In the infancy of the settlement a tannery was built 
here by Archibald Blue and Jared Noble. It was a 
story and a half stone structure, and stood near the foot 
of the hill, about twenty-five rods to the rear of the pres- 
ent Baptist church. A small brook flowing down the 
hill supplied the water required for tanning the hides. 
This brook at that time flowed continuously, bringing 
a considerable volume of water, as it does now only after 
hard rains and protracted thaws; but just below the site 
of the old tannery it loses itself in a fissure of the under- 
lying lime rock. Its mysterious disappearance and 
probable subsequent course were long subjects of specu- 
lation, and possibly might never have been explained 
but for particles of tell-tale tan-bark which rode its 
waters through the dark secret chambers of its subter- 
ranean passage, coming to light again a mile or more 
south of the village along the bank of the Cincinnati. 

In February, 1812, Blue & Noble sold the tannery 
and adjacent property to Col. Mather Beecher, who 
came here from the township of Russia, N. Y., and the 
former owners removed to Greene, Chenango county. 
Some years later Colonel Beecher added a large four- 
story structure, and carried on an extensive business, 
receiving shipments of hides and pelts from the north- 
em counties and from Canada. Thousands of cords of 
hemlock bark have been hauled here for use at this tan- 
nery. Mr. Beecher also established here a shoe factory, 
as it might be called, though shoemaking was a pure 



102 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

handicraft then, there being no machinery used. This 
was one of the first estabhshments of the kind in the 
United States, and the work was carried on in the stone 
building north of the Baptist church in Main street, 
which he built for that purpose. He employed in the 
tannery and the shoe factory from forty to sixty men, 
and provided many of them with board and lodging, as 
accommodations for workmen of that class were not 
easy to obtain. Boots and shoes were made in the fac- 
tory from leather of his own tanning, then shipped by 
way of the great lakes to Chicago, when that city was 
little more than a military post — Fort Dearborn. This 
wholesale traffic in foot-wear was an innovation in 
which Mr. Beecher was the pioneer. Before that time 
it was unknown, as boots and shoes were always made 
to order from measure. His son, Jerome Beecher, with 
a large consignment of these goods went to Chicago to 
superintend their sale, settled there permanently, and 
subsequently became very active and prominent in for- 
warding that city's growth. In partnership with his 
brother-in-law, a Mr. Cobb, he took large paving con- 
tracts, laying the first pavements in many of Chicago's 
most busy thoroughfares of to-day. 

Colonel Beecher, however, through the unfortunate 
purchase and use of a patent bark-mill, became involved 
in litigation, and much of his fortune was swept away. 
About 1850 the tannery was leased to Hale & Kaulback, 
who conducted the business for a few years. 

Chester Porter, who came to Steuben in 1806 or '08, 
early built a tannery at Sixty Acres. About 1830 he 
sold the business and the property to William J. Owen, 
who carried it on for over twenty years. 

A tannery was established in Steuben near that sec- 
tion called "Cobin," owned and operated for many years 
by Richard R. Roberts (Pen-y-caerau). 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 103 

Richard Thomas, who learned the trade of tanner and 
currier of Wilham J. Owen in Steuben, built a tannery 
at Bardwell in 1853, which he conducted until his death, 
in 1872. 

Between 1825 and '35, Andrew Nash manufactured 
wool hats in the house that stands on the south corner 
of Main and Steuben streets. 

John Bronson made wooden buckets at his farm, near 
the Pen-y-caerau church, in the early part of the last 
century. The hoops and bails were made entirely of 
wood, there being no metal about them. 

David Philip Thomas had a mill at Ninety Six, 
where for over twenty years he made cheese-boxes, fully 
supplying the local demand, which was moderately 
large, especially after cheese factories were established 
in these parts. 

Rounds & Turner had here a factory for making 
wooden chairs before 1850, and carried on the business 
for some years. 

David Bardwell manufactured bass and snare drums, 
bedsteads, chairs and other articles of furniture in a 
building that stood on the west side of Bardwell creek, 
which his father had formerly built for a saw-mill. The 
factory was burned in the fall of 1844. 

In some sections of Remsen township, especially at 
Ninety Six and the vicinity of Bardwell, spruce timber 
was once plentiful, and in these localities the manufac- 
ture of shaved shingles was a domestic industry of some 
importance; for, as was the case in the first stages in the 
preparation of flax for the loom, the work was done by 
the father and sons of the household. The spruce logs 
were sawed into eighteen-inch blocks, termed "shingle 
butts." These then were split into pieces of the re- 
quired thickness, about a quarter of an inch, with a 
cleaving instrument called a "frow," which was a blade 



104 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

with a handle at right angles, and operated by striking 
with a mallet. Those pieces were then placed upon a 
"shaving-horse," held firmly by a sort of lever pressed 
by the operator's foot, and with a draw-knife shaved at 
one end to a proper and nearly uniform thickness. The 
shingles were packed in bunches of five hundred or a 
thousand each, carted to town and sold, or exchanged 
at the store for merchandise. Workers at this craft 
were called "shingle weavers." 

About 1857 or '58, the firm of Joy & Joins engaged in 
the manufacture of butter tubs, in the Beecher tannery 
building. Mr. Joins died about 1860, and Mr. Joy sub- 
sequently removed to Herkimer county. 

In 1863, Didymus Thomas purchased the Beecher 
property and established in the old tannery building a 
cheese factory, which he conducted for several years, 
the milk used being brought in by farmers from the sur-. 
rounding country. 

The Ellis Foundry and Machine Shop was established 
in 1867, by John Ellis, the present proprietor. The 
business was first started in that nursery of many infant 
industries, the old Steam Mill. Later Mr. Ellis erected 
a shop near the depot, where he manufactured steam 
boilers, cheese presses, machinery for the manufacture 
of all kinds of cooperage, tread-wheels for churning by 
dog-power, all of which were his own inventions. In 
1884 he removed to Sioux Falls, Dakota, where he es- 
tablished a plant similar to the one he has here; but in 
1890 or '91 he returned to the old place. 

The occupation of village or country blacksmith, 
under conditions existing when this section was new, 
of necessity differed greatly from that of to-day. In 
those times the blacksmith was in a much broader 
sense "an artificer in iron." He wrought by hand 
implements for the farm and utensils for the house- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 105 

hold. He fashioned the crane upon which hung the 
pots and kettles in the fire-place, the andirons, the 
huge tongs for arranging the embers, and the shovel 
for removing the ashes. He made the candle-sticks, 
candle-snuffers and their accompanying tray; and 
among these what might be termed a ''combination 
fixture," that is, candle-sticks having a socket for a 
tallow candle and an attachment for holding a rush 
candle, so that either might be used at will. He 
also made a receptacle for what was known as the 
"slut"* candle — a small vessel formed like a gravy- 
boat, in which fat was placed and a rag immersed 
therein, one end protruding at the neck or spout of 
the vessel where the light was applied; and to its bail 
or handle was attached a spike, that might be driven 
into the wall of the log house, thus providing the 
occupants with "side lights." In addition to all the 
iron parts for wagons and sleighs, he made hinges, 
door-latches, bolts, rivets, and nails. There even 
yet may be found in the older houses here some of 
this hand-wrought work. Then too he formed and 
tempered sickles for cutting grain, and made hoes 
and other implements. It was said of William Boss, 
an adept at the trade who located in Prospect in 1798, 
that he could fashion anything in iron "from a Jews- 
harp to the iron parts of a saw-mill." 

In 1828 a poor German came to Utica, and near 
what was later known as "Nail creek," in West Utica, 
built a shop for the manufacture of nails which sold 
at a shilling a pound. He had two dogs trained to 
furnish the power by which a pair of bellows were 
worked. But eventually cut nails took the place of 
the hand-wrought, as they could be produced much 
more cheaply. 

* From the Danish word "slet," meaning a rag. 



io6 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Among the early blacksmiths who located here- 
about was a Colonel Davis, a revolutionary officer, 
who worked at his trade at Steuben Corners, having 
followed closely the arrival of Samuel Sizer, He 
later removed west. Jabez Burchard carried on the 
business at Sixty Acres, as early as 1806; and about 
this time Moses W. Prindle was doing work in a shop 
on the north corner of the turnpike and the road lead- 
ing to Prospect, at the south end of the village. At 
this shop Mr. Prindle was succeeded by Sylvester 
Burchard, who was joined by his father, Jabez Burch- 
ard, of Steuben, before 1830. Later they built a 
shop on the south corner of this road, where, in addi- 
tion to blacksmithing, they manufactured plows; 
and Jacob Lewis, afterward for many years a popular 
hotel keeper in Remsen, conducted the shop that they 
had vacated. 

About 1823 Moses Prindle built a shop in Main 
street, on the south line of the lot where now stands 
the house occupied by the late Dr. Reed. This house 
which then stood close upon the bank of the creek was 
for a long time the Prindle homestead; Moses Prindle 
living in the main part, and his son Walker, occupying 
a two-story ell with basement, which formerly joined 
the house on the south. Walker Prindle carried on 
blacksmithing for several years in a shop built by him 
on the south comer of Main street and the street 
leading past the site of the old Baptist church. At 
an early day Hugh Thomas engaged in this business 
near the Remsen Mills, and immediately south of 
his shop stood another, which for a time was conducted 
by William B. Jones. In January, 1848, both these 
buildings were destroyed by fire, as was also the resi- 
dence of Mr. Thomas. The latter rebuilt at once, 
and conducted business on the same spot until incapac- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 107 

itated by age. He was a man of singular industry, 
working early and late; the bright glow of his forge- 
fire and the music of his anvil attesting to his dili- 
gence while the less assiduous were in their beds. He 
was succeeded by his son, Hugh Thomas, Jr., and a 
son of the latter, Elmer H. Thomas, carries on the 
business to-day. Scattered through the country dis- 
tricts were a few more of this trade, notably near 
Fairchild, where in more recent years Richard Owens 
engaged in this work, and one near the Higby tavern. 
The business carried on in the village by Roscoe C. 
Roberts was established by him in 1884. 



CHAPTER VIII 

RELIGION AND CHURCH SOCIETIES 

For the greater part those here have ever been what 
may be denominated a rehgious people. In view of 
this fact, therefore, it has been necessary to devote 
considerable space in these pages to the record of the 
various religious movements and organizations that 
have taken root and flourished here, evidently from 
seed scattered on good ground. Representatives of 
nearlj'^ every shade of modern religious belief have 
proselyted here, from the Mormon elder, with his 
multiplicity of wives, to the Romish priest with no 
wife at all; and there have dwelt here adherents to 
divers and sundry doctrines, from those of Rome who 
maintained the validity of seven sacraments, to the 
Quaker of Philadelphia who believed in none.* 

Missionaries from New England were timely and 
effective laborers in the field. At an early period 

* A man named Williams, a resident of Steuben for many years, 
succumbed to the teachings of a Mormon elder who visited these 
parts, and started to move his family to Nauvoo, 111., then the seat 
of Mormonism, intending to cast his lot with those people. But 
stopping at Holland Patent to take leave of friends there, he heard 
reports derogatory to the new sect, so rented or bought a farm near 
by and remained there. 

At the time of the construction of the Black River Canal feeder, 
many Irish Catholic families settled about Forestport; and when 
the Black River and Utica railroad was built, families of the same 
faith and nationality located in Remsen. A priest from P'orestport 
frequently visited here. 

There were some famihes in Steuben who, on their arrival from 
Wales, had set tied among Quakers in or near Philatlelphia, embraced 
the precepts and thereafter lived in accordance with the practices of 
that sect. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 109 

there were formed in the east associations to devise 
means for supplying missionaries to itinerate in the 
new settlements; and in 1795, in an address to the 
inhabitants in these new settlements, it was declared 
to be the design of the associations to send to them 
"settled ministers, well reputed in the churches, to 
preach among them as occasion might offer, to gather 
and organize churches, to administer sealing ordinances, 
to instruct their young people, to catechise their chil- 
dren, and to perform all those ministerial duties which 
are usually practiced in the churches and congrega- 
tions of the east." 

Rev. Caleb Alexander thus sent out by the Massa- 
chusetts Missionary Society, visited Steuben in 1801, 
where he organized a church. Under date of No- 
vember 15 of that year, he makes a note in his jour- 
nal of the "sum of $9.66" having been contributed to 
the Missionary Society by the people here. 

The first Welsh sermon ever preached in Steuben 
was by Rev. James Harris, a Baptist minister of 
Utica, in the barn of Ebenezer Weeks, near Ty Coch 
corners, in 1798; and the first religious discourse in 
Remsen, was delivered by an itinerant preacher in the 
barn of Stephen Hutchinson, on what was later known 
as the "Price place," half a mile north of the village. 

In January, 1802, at Northampton, the Hamp- 
shire Missionary Society was organized. As expressed 
in its constitution, "the object and business of this 
society is to promote the propagation of the gospel 
among the inhabitants of the new settlements of the 
United States, and among the aboriginal natives of 
this continent." It would seem that they soon sent 
a missionary to the field of "Western New York," as 
all that part of the state west of the Hudson river 
counties was then termed; for in the Documentary 



no HISTORY OF REMSEN 

History of New York there is printed the journal of 
Rev. John Taylor, giving an account of his labors 
there from July to October, 1802, from which we 
quote the following: 

"Steuben, Thursday, August 5. — At Deacon Mitch- 
ell's. Visited a number of families. In this town there 
is a church of about 30 members. The church was 
formed by Mr. Alexander in 1801. They keep up reli- 
gious meetings on the Sabbath, and are a religious peo- 
ple. There is one Baptist church — numerous — vacant. 
One-third of the inhabitants are Welsh, and they have 
appointed one of their number to preach among them- 
selves. 

"Friday 6. — Spent the day in visiting a number of 
families, and a school of about 35 children. 

"Saturday, 7. — Visited various families. Afternoon 
preached to an attentive audience. Appearances agree- 
able. 

"Sunday, 8. — Communion. Most of the Baptists 
present. Baptised 6 children — had a church meeting 
after services — and apparently, and I hope effectually, 
settled an unhappy difficulty which has subsisted in the 
church with one of its members for more than a year. 
Appointed a lecture on Monday among the Baptists. 

"Monday, 9. — Visited some of the Welsh people. 
They appear to be a religious and regular body, a few 
excepted. Afternoon. Preached to a very attentive 
audience — visited a school of about 20 children, engaged 
some books. 

"Tuesday, 10. — Spent the day in visiting — called on 
9 different families. The people appear to be poor but 
very considerate ; and I have reason to believe that there 
is more piety in Steuben than in any town on Connecti- 
cut river. I find the schools very destitute of books of 
all kinds. The people are progressing, however, very 
rapidly toward good order and good schooling. No 
meeting-house. The church being in want of books to 
be read on the Sabbath, I gave them one volume of the 
Select Sermons. I think it proper to return to this 
place again." 



HISTORY OF REMSEN in 

After visiting the western part of Oneida county 
and some of the towns in the present counties of 
Lewis and Jefferson, Mr. Taylor visited "Boon's 
Upper Settlement," now Boonville. Under date of 
Tuesday, September 21, he writes: "Rode to Remsen, 
14 miles. This is a broken society. The people are 
very ignorant and very wicked." 

It is impossible that Remsen society justly deserved 
this sweeping condemnatory accusation that Mr. 
Taylor in his journal thought fit to register against 
it; for it is an incontrovertible fact that there were 
then many excellent families settled here, who in 
point of intelligence compared favorably with the 
dwellers in any new community and whose morals 
and general conduct were above reproach. Still, it 
must be admitted that there were also living here 
those whose lives in some respects were so at variance 
with established principles as to merit censure and 
the most forceful reproof. But in this connection 
it should be borne in mind that Mr. Taylor's visit to 
Remsen was made not many years after the close of 
the war of the revolution; and it is well known that 
camp vices had sown the seed of recklessness, and the 
whole land had to contend with the consequent growth 
of immorality and infidelity for a long period after 
peace was declared. Matters of religion often were 
neglected, drunkenness fearfully increased, and social 
life generally was sadly lowered in tone. At the 
time of Mr. Taylor's visit and some years subsequent 
thereto, there were couples living here as man and 
wife under the simple agreement of union and without 
official act or religious rite of sanction; and they thus 
lived together for many years, and reared their fam- 
ilies before any ceremony legalizing their relation was 
performed. After a lodge of Free Masons was insti- 



112 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

tuted in Remsen, some applicants were denied ad- 
mission to membership on this account. And this 
circumstance, together with a religious awakening 
attendant on a revival conducted by an itinerant 
preacher, caused these delinquents to look upon their 
lives in a new light, and their marriages were respec- 
tively duly solemnized in regular form, some of them 
then the parents of children grown to manhood and 
womanhood. 

The Journal also contains the following items: — 

"About three months since a stranger came into the 
town, who appeared to be a pert coxcomb, about 28 
years of age, who calls himself Alexander. He soon ob- 
tained a school, and in about a fortnight set up preach- 
ing, and pretends to preach every Sabbath. Who and 
what he is I know not — but that he is some notorious 
villain I believe there is no doubt. Many of the people 
— especially the wickedest part — are very much at- 
tached to him. There is no church in town and but one 
professor, who belongs to the church in Steuben. 

"Wednesday, 22. — Preached a lecture — not more 
than 25 people present, and a number of these were far 
from being decent in their behavior, and it was not in 
my power to make them feel reproof nor the force of 
truth. 

"Thursday, 23. — Drew an order for a number of 
books for the people in Remsen, and such of them as I 
have not disposed of myself I have left to the dispo- 
sition of Mr. [Ephraim] Hoyt, ye only professing per- 
son in the town and an excellent character." 

We find it recorded that "Rev. Eliphalet Steele, 
pastor of a Presbyterian church at Paris Hill, as- 
sisted at the organization of a Presbyterian church 
at Steuben, in 1797;" but we have been unable to 
establish whether this society was organized at Steu- 
ben Corners or in the vicinity of Sixty Acres, nor 
indeed to find anything further relating to it. In any 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 113 

event it must have ceased to exist before the visit of 
Mr. Taylor, for he makes no allusion to it in his journal. 
In the "Annals of Oneida County," (1850), it is 
stated that, "The first religious society in the town of 
Remsen was a Presbyterian society, which was formed 
at an early day, now extinct." This statement, so 
far as it relates to the "town" is incorrect, for there 
was a Baptist society organized in the eastern part 
of the township in 1809, which was some years before 
the Presbyterian body referred to was organized. 
The first religious society in Remsen village was or- 
ganized in the latter part of December, 1817. The 
following account of its organization is taken from 
their records: — 

"These certify — That at a meeting holden at the 
school house, in District No. 1, in the town of Remsen, 
in the County of Oneida and State of New York, for the 
purpose of forming into a Religious Society, agreeable 
to an act entitled: 'An act to provide for the incorpor- 
ation of Religious Societies, passed the 27th day of 
March, 1801.' The meeting having been legally warned 
agreeable to the third section of said act, met on the 
22nd day of December, 1817, when, after reading the 
law, Lemuel Hough and Oliver Smith were chosen to 
preside, make returns of Trustees to the Clerk, etc., and 
also the meeting proceeded to the choice of six Trustees, 
when Zalmon Root, Earl Bill, Nathaniel Johnson, Wil- 
liam Piatt, Heman Ferry & Broughton White were 
chosen, & after drawing for the time for which they 
should serve, Nathaniel Johnson and William Piatt 
drew No. 1, Zalmon Root and Broughton White No. 2, 
Earl Bill and Heman Ferry No. 3 years each, by the 
name style and title of The Trustees of the First Con- 
gregational Society in Remsen; 

"Witness our hands and seals in Remsen, this 22nd 
day of Dec. 1817. 

Lemuel Hough, Recording and 
Ohver Smith, Returning Officers." 



114 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

There is a record of a meeting of this society held 
October 16, 1848, at the office of George A. Yeomans, 
called by the order of the trustees for the next three 
years, when the following trustees were chosen: 

"John Smith and Obadiah Owen, for one year; Math- 
er Beecher & Andrew Billings, for two years; Zalmon 
Root & William E. White for three years. 

"Oct. 16, 1849. Met at the Academy. A. Billings 
& 0. J. Owens, chairmen, Wm, E. White, Clerk. S. 
Douglas, Treas., Benj. F. Grey, 6th Trustee. 

"Trustees as follows: 0. J. Owens & J. H. Smith for 
one year; M. Beecher & A. Billings for two years; Z. D. 
Root & B, F. Grey for three years. Adjourned to Oct. 
16, 1850. 

"Oct. 16, 1850. Met at the Academy. A. Billings 
chairman, Wm. E. White, Clk. Adjournment to Oct. 
30, 1850. 

"March 15, 1854 at Academy. M. Beecher chair- 
man, Wm. E. White Clk. S. Douglas Treas. Trustees 
M. Beecher & Ezekiel Jones for 1 year; A. Billings & 0. 
J. Owens for 2 years; Z. D. Root & B. F. Grey for 3 
years." 

The best account we have been able to obtain of 
this society is from reminiscences of Mrs. Eveline 
Rockwood, who came to Remsen as a child, in 1818, 
from which we quote the following: — 

"About 1821 or '22, my mother was received into 
membership of the Congregational church, in the old 
school house, in Remsen village. There were two serv- 
ices, one in the forenoon and one in the afternoon. At 
the afternoon service on the same day, three of her chil- 
dren were baptised. I think Rev. Evan Roberts was 
the minister. I remember the communion service and 
the Sabbath school. Other churches united with us at 
different times, holding special meetings for one, two or 
three days, first in Trenton perhaps, then Holland Pat- 
ent, Western, etc. Rev. Evan Roberts sei-ved this 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 115 

church for some time — Dr. Everett came often. Then 
a Rev. Wilcox became pastor, and about 1825 there was 
a religious revival, and many came into the church. In 
1830-31, an evangelist spent several weeks here, and a 
general revival of religion extending through the several 
towns, Remsen was greatly blessed, and over sixty join- 
ed the church, myself among the number. A. Rev. 
Waters from New Hartford was pastor at this time. 
Among the converts was our Dr. Earl Bill, then over 
sixty years old. His son, Charles Oliver Bill, was ex- 
pected to join the church the same day, but did not. 
The next day, August 2, 1830, he, with two lady cousins 
and his sister, visited Trenton Falls. The water was 
high, the rocks slippery, and while walking with his 
sister near the edge of the chasm, his foot slipped and he 
went into the current and over the falls to the bottom, 
where his body was found on the following Wednesday. 
And what added to the sadness of the tragedy, the 
young man was just ready to join the father in business, 
to make lighter his burden of visiting the sick, and to be 
the staff of his old age. He was a young man respected 
and beloved by all who knew him. 

"About this time (1830-31), measures were taken to 
bring about a change in church government or affilia- 
tion. I was present when action was taken, changing 
from Congregational to the Presbyterian church gov- 
ernment by uniting with the Presbytery. My father 
was a delegate, and I remember to have seen him start 
from home to go with others to represent the Remsen 
church in the Presbyterian assembly. Removals be- 
gan which weakened the society, and those left, having 
no one who was accustomed to lead, and being unable 
to sustain preaching, all gave up. 

"A little band afterwards started a church of some 
name — Union Church, I think. Members of the for- 
mer society, with some newly joined, formed this church, 
but I do not remember that it stood long. Services 
continued to be held in the Academy until the society 
became extinct." 



ii6 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

We quote again from the church records: — 

"Jan. 24, 1857, met at Post Office. Present, M. 
Beecher, A. Billings, Z. D. Root, B. F. Grey, 0. J. 
Owens & Evan Jones, Trustees. M. Beecher, chair- 
man, Wm. E. White, clerk. 

"On motion Resolved that the Society adopt a seal 
by which the said Society be known as a corporation, 
and to be used for all purposes of said Society in legal 
proceedings and for conveying real estate, and that the 
seal, of which an impress is here made, be the seal of 
said Society. 

Wm. E. White, Clerk. 

"On motion resolved that when the society is much 
in debt, and unable to pay except by sale of its real 
estate, that an application to the Supreme Court be 
made for the purpose of selling the real estate, and for 
the payment of debts thereof, from the amount of said 
sale. 

"March 31, 1857. At office of 0. J. Owens. Brest of 
Trustees, A. Billings, chairman; Wm. E. White, Clerk. 

"An order having been made by the Supreme Court, 
authorizing the sale of the real estate of the Society, 
which order was dated Feb. 24, 1857, and said real estate 
having been accordingly put up, at public auction, on 
March 21, 1857, at which sale was made to John J. 
Owens of Remsen for $217, that being the highest bid, 
therefore voted that the deed of the Society be executed 
to the said John J. Owens for said real estate, being the 
Academy lot, so called. Voted that Mather Beecher 
and Ezekiel Jones be a committee to receive the money 
and with it pay all costs owing by the Society and all 
debts owing by the Society. Wm. E. White, Clerk." 

Thus terminated the first religious organization 
in the village of Remsen, and this after a faithful 
endeavor of forty years, in which the society had 
accomplished much good. At this time the village 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 117 

and farming districts for miles around had become 
populated largely by people of Welsh origin, most of 
whom had come directly from Wales, until they com- 
prised nearly if not quite two-thirds of the commu- 
nity, and the Welsh language was more frequently heard 
than the English. They already had their own relig- 
ious organizations, where services were conducted en- 
tirely in their own tongue, and these naturally were 
their choice, while the English speaking residents found 
a church home with the Methodist Episcopal body, 
organized only a few years before the dissolution of 
the Congregational society. 

The hyper-Calvinism of early days was here strongly 
preached from the pulpit, expounded in the family 
and in the Sunday school, and received by the people 
generally, especially by the Welsh. The majority 
of these were strongly Calvinistic in doctrinal belief 
— Presbyterian or Calvinistic Methodist, Calvinistic 
Baptist, and Congregational. Austere by nature, 
exacting, inflexible and unemotional, the austerities 
of Calvinism appealed to their temperament. Only 
a comparatively small percentage of the Welsh have 
ever embraced the milder doctrines of Wesley, or 
those expounded by the National Church of England; 
but whatever their religious belief, they are steadfast 
in it as the hills and never wont to be "carried about 
by divers and strange doctrines," nor impulsively to 
follow any theological bellwether. The characteris- 
tic inclination of these people toward a religious life 
has been beautifully exemplified in the characters of 
many of this nationality who for years have comprised 
the bulk of the population of Remsen village and 
vicinity. An instance of their Christian zeal may be 
cited in the case of a wom.an who walked nine miles 
through the wilderness carrying a babe four months 



ii8 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

old in her arms, to attend the first prayer-meeting, 
held in the house of William C. Jones, at what after- 
ward was the Lewis Everett farm, about half a mile 
west of Remsen village. 

The early Welsh preachers had neither titles, suf- 
fixes, nor degrees, and except in rare instances no 
scholastic attainments other than the Welsh Bible 
afforded them. One has said of these men that, 
"Their familiarity with their native language, rich 
in theological terms, sublime in diction and phraseol- 
ogy was perfect, and their oratory of the loftier strains 
wonderfully resembled those of the Hebrew prophets 
of old: like all ancient nations their discourses were 
largely of the recitative type, with musical intonations, 
with exquisite sonorous cadences, to which is given 
the name 'hwyl,' a word meaning 'full sail on,' filled 
with celestial breeze carrying them along to the Bet- 
ter Land." 

And who could but marvel at the power and moral 
effect of their preaching — those guileless and sincere 
men, who seemed like the Apostles to speak "as they 
were moved by the Holy Ghost." Since the days of 
the Apostles no other nation has produced such preach- 
ers as Wales has produced ; nor have any other people, 
except by priestly domination or the enforced demands 
of an ecclesiastical hierarchy, ever held so closely to 
their religious precepts and observances. Yet the 
material recompense of these men was small and 
their creature comforts few, making it imperatively 
necessary for most of them to follow a secular pur- 
suit in addition to their ministerial labors. 

The following historical sketch of the First Welsh 
Congregational Church of Steuben (Capel Ucha), 
was compiled by Miss Mary H. Everett, of Remsen. 
It is a valuable contribution to the history of this 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 119 

locality, and it is with her kind permission that we 
present it here: — 

"The first Welsh settlers came to Steuben September 
15, 1795, and located in this immediate neighborhood. 
There were five families, consisting of about eighteen 
persons. Several American families had preceded them, 
and welcomed the new-comers with great kindness and 
hospitality. For over two and a half years they had no 
religious services in Welsh, and only occasionally did a 
faithful missionary find his way here through the forests 
and preach a sermon in English. * * * 

'Tn June, 1798, other Welsh families came, mostly 
Christians. They immediately established a prayer 
meeting, held twice on the Sabbath, and a church soci- 
ety (seiat) was held once during the week. In 1800 
there were twelve members. With no stated place of 
worship, they went from house to house for their ser- 
vices. Those cottage prayer meetings, the cradle and 
nursery of the church, thus early begun, flourished, 
with few lapses, often with power, and always with 
profit, over these hills and in the valley for over one 
hundred years. They have served to bind together, in 
loving harmony, as with links of gold, our scattered 
membership. 

"These earnest Christians labored in this way, with- 
out Welsh preaching, until the first week in November, 
1801, when Mr. John G. Roberts came from Pennsyl- 
vania. He had been licensed to preach by the Congre- 
gational Church in Ebensburgh, Pa., years before, was 
cordially received by the church here, and ordained as 
pastor, previous to May 12, 1802. This relationship 
continued with faithful service until he died, at the age 
of 48, in New York City, October 19, 1817. He was 
buried at Trinity. 

"Mr. William Pierce commenced preaching early in 
1807, was ordained as pastor, and as co-laborer with 
Rev. John Roberts, December 25, of the same year. 
He preached 40 years, 21 in this church. He died De- 
cember 29, 1847, aged 79 years. He was buried at Nant. 

"This was at first a union church, its members being 



120 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

from Calvinistic Methodist, and Congregational church- 
es in Wales. One in Christ, and in all points essential 
to salvation, and working together in Christian fellow- 
ship, they still retained their early individual beliefs, 
honestly held, as to those minor matters, which make 
the distinction between denominations. March 19, 
1804, the church was incorporated as the 'First Welsh 
Methodist Society of Steuben.' At this time there 
were in Steuben radical and intelligent Congregation- 
alists, members of long standing in Wales, who, though 
worshiping with this church, and contributing to its 
finances, as though they were members, did not unite 
with it. Of this number Nicodemus Griffith and two 
or three others visited the Utica Welsh Congregational 
Church early in the winter of 1804-5, to confer with 
them as to the advisability of their uniting with that 
church, or of forming a Welsh Congregational church in 
Steuben. The latter course being decided upon, a meet- 
ing was held in April, 1805, at the house of Nicodemus 
Griffith for the purpose of forming a Welsh Congrega- 
tional church. Rev. Daniel Morris and others of the 
Utica church were present, by invitation, to assist in the 
regularity of the proceedings. Articles of creed and 
society by-laws were adopted, and a Congregational 
church was organized. Due notice of this meeting hav- 
ing been given the previous Sabbath at the regular ser- 
vice held that day, at the house of Deacon William C. 
Jones, nearly all the Methodist brethren and sisters 
were present, and wished to come with the Congrega- 
tionalists into this new church. Thus the church, pre- 
viously existing, was merged as it were, into this new 
one. Rev. John G. Roberts was invited to remain as 
pastor of the new organization. Although from this 
time, April, 1805, it was strictly Congregational, self- 
governing, choosing its own officers, &c., the corporate 
name remained the same until April, 1829, as will be 
seen farther on. 

"The half acre lot 151, for the original cemetery and 
church building, was bought of Col. Benjamin Walker, 
for 50c. (Date of this transaction is April 2, 1804.) It 
was a gift, promised in October, 1801. Griffith Row- 
land had a lease on the land, which the chm'ch bought 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 121 

of him for $3.50. (This transaction is dated February 
20, 1804.) Two plots of similar size have been added 
since 1861, the Price and Griffith additions. 

"The first to be laid in this now populous, but quiet 
city of the dead, was a young lady of 19, who died Sep- 
tember 30, 1798, Gwen Jones, daughter of Deacon Wm. 
C. Jones. Her grave, with those of her parents, is just 
east of the northern end of this building. The number 
of burials, by actual count recently taken, is, in the old 
cemetery, 326, in the Price lot 171, in the Griffith lot 26, 
total 504. Doubtless the many unmarked graves in the 
original cemetery would increase the number to 600, or 
possibly 700. 

"The first church building erected in Steuben, among 
the Welsh, was of logs, and placed on this spot in 1804, 
during the pastorate of Rev. John G. Roberts. It was 
to be used for school purposes as well, was completed 
about the last of November, and school opened Decem- 
ber 1st. On Christmas night, December 25, it was acci- 
dentally burned with all its contents. During the fol- 
lowing year, 1805, a frame structure was built on the 
same site. In this they worshipped until it became 
altogether too small to accommodate the many who 
assembled to hear. Hundreds of Welsh settlers came 
over in 1818, and, as is stated in the church annals, 
'some were dropping in every day.' In 1819 the frame 
building was removed to give place to the commodious 
stone edifice, which was two years in building, one for 
the masonry and one for the frame work. It was built 
during the pastorate of Rev. William G. Pierce, and 
completed in 1820. This stood for 83 years, and would 
have done good service for many years more had it not 
been for a spring under the N. W. corner of the founda- 
tion, which, with its alternate freezing and thawing, 
slowly but surely undermined that corner, and racked 
the entire structure; even as evil principles in the heart 
undermine and ruin the noblest work of God. Stren- 
uous efforts were made to stay the bulging walls by 
placing strong upright braces on the sides without, kept 
in place by iron rods, running through the church, and 
later by iron girding around, above the windows, but 
the persistent spring, noiselessly and insidiously con- 



122 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

tinued its attacks at the foundation, and the work of 
destruction went on. 

"A tablet in front read thus: — 'Ebenezer, Adeil- 
adwyd 1820. Gwrandewch a bydd byw.' The in- 
scription below the name, is, as translated, 'Built 
1820. Hear and live.' Whence the name, we fail 
to learn. 'Capel Ucha' (Upper Church) came from 
the location on higher ground. 

"Early in the summer of 1806, Rev. Howell R. 
Powell visited the Utica and Steuben churches, and 
incited them to establish a Welsh preaching festival, 
the Gymanfa, such as existed among the churches in 
Wales. This was accomplished the following Sep- 
tember, the first session being held in Utica, the first 
week, succeeded by one in Steuben the following week. 
Later they were held in both places during the same 
week, commencing on the second Monday in Septem- 
ber. The ministers who took part in the first meet- 
ing were Revs. Daniel Morris and Evan Davies of 
Utica, Rev. John G. Roberts of Steuben, and an En- 
glish divine. * * * Rev. H. R. Powell took an 
important part in the session of 1807, and for twenty- 
five years attended faithfully and assisted in conduct- 
ing the services. Mr. Powell landed in New York 
in May, 1801, there organizing a Welsh Congi'egational 
church, which he served three years, later held pas- 
torates in several American churches in different 
localities, for many years. Died in Palmyra, Ohio, 
April 12, 1850, aged 92. 

"At the close of the Gymanfa in Steuben, Septem- 
ber 13, 1816, the evening session was a covenant meet- 
ing, the subject being prayer, especially the duty 
and preciousness of secret prayer. Then all agreed, 
in a spirit of love, the Independents and Baptists, 
to meet together on the first Monday of each month, 
in Steuben and Utica, to pray for the success of the 
gospel, and the extension of Christ's kingdom. Thus 
was instituted in this church, the missionary prayer 
meeting of the first Monday evening in each month. 

"In 1816, the American Bible society was organ- 
ized in New York, and on December 28, of the same 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 123 

year, an auxiliary society was formed in Steuben, 
called 'The Welsh Bible Society of Steuben, Utica 
and vicinities,' Rev. John G. Roberts and Rev. Wil- 
liam G. Pierce being pastors. An annual meeting 
was held in Utica January 6, 1818, in Steuben Jan- 
uary 5, 1819, and we find record of their being held 
thus to 1822 inclusive. The Baptists joined heartily 
in the work, their church, the Utica Congregational 
Church, and this being the only ones then existing in 
Oneida County among the Welsh. Churches be- 
coming established in Remsen, with unabated inter- 
est in the Bible Society, this branch of the original 
Welsh Society became known as 'The Welsh Bible 
Society of Steuben, Remsen and vicinities,' and later 
of Remsen, Steuben and vicinities; the latter name 
being now enrolled on the official list of the parent 
society in New York. This church is on the extreme 
edge of the town, and Remsen, the P. 0. of most of 
its members, but the yearly appointed collectors 
never fail to traverse the hills of Steuben for the an- 
nual ingathering of Bible money. Later statistics, 
from 1830 to 1847, show that the alternate annual 
meetings of this with the Utica Society were continued 
to the latter date, when the union was dissolved. 

"The Welsh heart has ever had a warm place for 
the Bible Society, owing especially to the fact that 
the dearth of Bibles in Wales, and the persistent 
efforts of a young Welsh girl, Mary Jones, of Llan- 
fihangel. North Wales, to obtain a Bible of her own, 
led to the organization of the British and Foreign 
Bible Society in London, March 7, 1804. 

"August 15, 1825, Mr. Benjamin Davies came 
from New York, united with this church, and was 
here licensed to preach. February 2, 1826, he with 
thirty other members of this church left to form the 
CM. church of Pen-y-caereau, their church building 
having been erected by some of the members here, 
in August, 1824. In 1828 Penygraig and Nant churches 
were built, and then William G. Pierce closed his 
pastorate here, and went to Nant. 

"Thus the CM. branch of this union church went 



124 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

peaceably to their new church homes, and in the fol- 
lowing year, April 18, 1829, by special act of the 
Legislature at Albany, through the efforts of Deacon 
Timothy Griffith, the corporate name of the church 
was changed to 'The First Welsh Congregational 
Society of the town of Steuben.' 

"This was during the pastorate of Rev. Evan Rob- 
erts, who came to Steuben September 17, 1820, and 
in December of that year he was engaged to preach 
one-half his time here, as co-laborer with Rev. Wm. 
G. Pierce, and half his time with the English 'on the 
Turnpike.' One minister preached Sabbath morn- 
ings, the other in the afternoon; services also Sabbath 
evenings. Later he preached much in Penymynydd, 
and during his pastorate the church was there or- 
ganized. He was methodical, and kept the most 
accurate records of any before or after him. Mr. 
Morris Jones supplied the pulpit for several months 
while he was in Pennsylvania collecting for church 
debt. He died September 10, 1836. Buried at 
Steuben. Educated at Wrexham. It is stated that 
Rev. James Davies, later of Ohio, came to this neigh- 
borhood in 1832, remained two years, and supplied 
here for several months. Rev. Evan Evans, later 
of Pottsville, Pa., supplied also during the vacancy. 
Rev. Jenkin Jenkins supplied from December, 1834, 
to April, 1835. Educated at Auburn. 

"As many of the members here resided at Peny- 
mynydd, a vote was passed at a church meeting held 
here February 11, 1832, to the effect that the next 
communion service should be held in Penymynydd, 
and that thereafter there should be two communion 
seasons, one here, and one there. Therefore, in March 
1832, a church society was organized in Penymynydd, 
with twenty-nine charter members, all from this 
church. While worshipping in the school house they 
took their turn with the Gymanfa. A window was 
removed, and the speakers from the open space, ad- 
dressed the hearers, within and without. Their church 
building was erected in 1836-7 during the pastorate 
of Rev. Wm. D. Williams. Receiving spiritual in- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 125 

struction from the same pastors during their several 
periods of service, from 1801 to 1889, Capel Ucha' 
and Penymynydd were bound together with ties of 
special love and harmony, and the feeling of kinship 
existing between them has ever been affectionate 
and cordial. The Welsh Congregational churches 
of Ninety Six, Prospect, Trenton and Holland Patent 
branched from this church. Holland Patent alone 
retains the Welsh. 

Rev. Wm. D, Williams was for two years a pupil 
of Rev. Wm. Griffiths, Holyhead, Anglesey. He 
came to America in 1832, was ordained in Salem, 
Deerfield, July 17, 1833. He became pastor of the 
two churches September 7, 1835. The two years 
and eight months of his pastorate were greatly blessed. 
The stone church was filled to overflowing each Sab- 
bath and many were received in membership from 
time to time. In 1838 the interest deepened, and at 
the close of his labors here, April 22, 1838, he gave 
the right hand of fellowship to ninety-seven new 
members. October 26, 1837, Rev. Morris Roberts 
and his excellent wife, having left the C. M. church, 
united here. He labored faithfully and with power, 
with Rev. Wm. D. Williams in this, 'the great revi- 
val of 1838,' Rev. Robert Everett came repeatedly 
from Westernville, and with his quickening, melting 
appeals, aided greatly in the blessed work, Rev. Mr. 
Williams being then a young man less than thirty 
years old, felt very deeply the responsibility of the 
work, and wished that the church might have a pastor 
of riper age and experience. Mr. Williams was bur- 
ied at Salem, Deerfield. 

"Rev. Dr. Everett was educated at Wrexham. He 
declined to remain as teacher and co-laborer with 
Dr. George Lewis, accepted a call to Denbigh, North 
Wales, was there ordained June 5, 1815, at the age 
of 24. In 1821 was one of twelve ministers to found 
the "Dysgedydd,' a religious monthly still continued. 
In 1823 he received a call to the Welsh Congrega- 
tional Church of Utica, N. Y., where he entered on 
his labors July 21, 1823. In 1830 he organized in 



126 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Utica a temperance society, the first among the Welsh 
in America or Wales. Resigned late in 1832, preached 
for a time in the Second Presbyterian Church (En- 
glish) in Utica, thence went in 1833 to an English 
Congregational church in Winfield, where a memor- 
ial window testifies to their love. A letter sent by 
him from there, published in the 'Dysgedydd' in 1834, 
gave the first impulse to the temperance movement 
in Wales. In 1836 to Westernville (Eng. Pres.), 
where in February, 1838, his house was burned, with 
valuable library and nearly all his personal manu- 
scripts. He came in charge here April 29, 1838. 
There were many who needed a wise shepherd's ten- 
der care and guidance, such as he was so well fitted 
to give. 

"During his pastorate there were revivals in 1840, 
1843, 1851, 1858 and 1868, and many were received 
into membership during the intervals. In 1840 there 
were about 200 members. January 1, of this year, 
the first number of the 'Cenhadwr' was issued. In 
1839-1840 the church was repaired, enlarged and 
beautified. It was then that the artistic gallery was 
constructed, gracefully curving underneath, supported 
by cylindrical columns, and seats rising from front 
to rear, so that all could see, and be seen by the min- 
isters, who, having mounted the numerous steps, 
were perched in the picturesque pulpit, from which 
they could look down on the audience below, and up 
to every hearer in the gallery. Doors also were at 
the sides of the pulpit to close, as if to shut in the 
eloquence, that it might pour forth with more power 
from above. Some years before Mr. Everett's death, 
this pulpit was replaced by the one now in use. The 
spacious windows, on either side, with sixty 9 x 12 
lights each, were reminders of the long ago. 

"When this fine auditorium was filled with eager 
listeners, above and below, in the aisles, on the plat- 
form, on the pulpit stairs, with children sitting even 
in the deep windows, and the Divine Presence brood- 
ing over all, the effect was inspiriting, well suited to 
call forth the best efforts of the speakers, and a tear- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 127 

ful, yielding, worshipful response in the hearts of the 
hearers. The many hundreds who have here been 
brought to Christ, and the influence that has emanated 
therefrom, eternity only will reveal. Is it a wonder 
that heart strings quivered, and tears came, when 
we were obliged reluctantly to realize that the treach- 
erous spring had done its work so thoroughly, that 
the dear old walls must come down! Those walls 
had sheltered the church home of our parents, 
and the grand-parents of many of us, there our own 
childish hearts had learned to love the house of God, 
there had been heard the impassioned eloquence of 
so many of our old Welsh ministers in this country, 
and from Wales, thrilling addresses from the immortal 
Finney, in behalf of temperance, of Alvan Stewart, 
Beriah Green and others of anti-slavery note, and 
even the plaintive story of the fleeing bondman, who, 
when he had told his tale, was secretly hurried to the 
next station on the underground railroad, on his forced 
flight to liberty in the Queen's dominions. 

"A Welsh Total Abstinence pledge card, issued by 
'The Temperance Society of Steuben and Remsen/ 
is among the treasured relics of the wife of Rev. Dr. 
Erasmus W. Jones. It was signed for her, when a 
child, in 1832, and as the card number is 20, it would 
seem that the society was organized about that time. 
Intoxicating wine was still used at the Lord's table, 
as a symbol of the sacrificial blood of our immaculate 
Redeemer. When Mr. Everett came to this church, 
one of his most useful and much loved members, who 
had in early life been deeply under the curse of strong 
drink, so almost universally used at that time, but 
who had won the victory years before, was a trusted 
and honored deacon, faithful, gifted in singing, ex- 
hortation and prayer, a leader in social meetings, a 
power in the church. At the first communion, Mr. 
Everett observed that though a deacon, he passed 
the wine without partaking of it, and on inquiring 
the reason, learned that he dared not touch it, as 
the long controlled appetite, though slumbering, 
might be re-awakened by a single taste. With char- 



128 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

acteristic tenderness of conscience, and sympathy for 
the tempted, the true pastor placed the matter before 
the two churches, and from that time, 1838, no fer- 
mented wine has ever been placed on this commun- 
ion table, and never during Dr. Everett's life in Peny- 
mynydd. A tribute of tender and reverent esteem 
is due the memory of Benjamin Perry, whose over- 
coming wrought so beneficent a change in this church. 
His prayers, a few years later, for a 'little sister,' 
the only child member at that time, gave much strength 
and encouragement, and were ever held in grateful 
remembrance. 

"January 27, 1842, the 'Welsh Anti-slavery So- 
ciety of Steuben, Remsen, Trenton and vicinities' 
was formed in this church. The struggles that en- 
sued, with final victory, are matters of history, but 
it may here be truthfully said of the occupant of this 
pulpit and heroic editor of the Welsh organ of reform 
at that time, that when principles of truth and right- 
eousness were assailed, his vindication was quick, 
decisive and uncompromising, but whatever there 
might be of personal assault or calumny, verbal or 
in print, he never resented or replied to, unless silence 
might injure the cause. Though painful to a sensi- 
tive nature, such as his was, it was let fall, as unim- 
portant in comparison with the vital problems, which 
he, with others, was striving to solve. Time and 
strength were too precious, the fight was on, against 
the crying sins of the age. The memories of those 
early days of patient, unflinching effort, of fixed pur- 
pose, and quiet, cheerful sacrifice, together with the 
ever loyal, uplifting comradeship of his life compan- 
ion, are a sacred legacy, precious beyond all telling. 

"Rev. Sem Phillips came in December, 1866, when 
Dr. Everett's physical powers were declining, espec- 
ially his voice. With the advent of this younger and 
stronger brother. Dr. Everett wished to resign in his 
favor, that he might devote himself more exclusively 
to the larger field of the 'Cenhadwr.' The churches 
being unwilling to release him, the two labored har- 
moniously together until June 23, 1872, when Mr. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 129 

Phillips left for a more western field. During his 
pastorate here, he compiled a valuable history of this 
church and Penymynydd, from which this imperfect 
sketch is largely drawn. He was educated at Brecon, 
formerly Wrexham. 

"In 1871 a society was organized, whose corporate 
name was and is 'Welsh Congregational Education 
Society of Oneida Co., N. Y.' The object being 'to 
aid in the education of young men of piety and talent 
for the gospel ministry in the Welsh Congregational 
denomination.' The original promoters of this so- 
ciety were Dr. Everett, Mr. Henry Roberts (Mrs. 
Everett's brother), Mr. William Roberts, a faithful 
and liberal deacon of this church, and his wife, Mrs. 
Elizabeth Roberts, the latter two having left legacies 
for this purpose. The charter members were Mr. 
Henry Roberts, Dr. Everett, Rev. Morris Roberts, 
Griffith 0. Griffith and Wm. W. Thomas. The date 
and place of the first meeting are not recorded, but 
the constitution was sworn to October 16, 1871, be- 
fore Lewis Everett, son of Dr. Everett, justice of the 
peace in Steuben, and the second meeting was held 
in Steuben. We thus claim this society as a child of 
this church. Those who have received benefit from 
it have been and are doing noble work for the Master. 

"Dr. Everett's pastorate closed with his life on 
earth February 25, 1875, after sixty-six years of active 
service in the Lord's vineyard, almost sixty as or- 
dained pastor. His age was 84. He was buried in 
the family lot in Steuben. 

"Rev. E. R. Hughes came in the spring of 1875, soon 
after Dr. Everett's death, and remained till January, 
1885. Rev. T. T. Davies commenced supplying the 
first Sabbath in May, 1887, was ordained June 29, 
1887, closed his pastorate the last Sabbath in April, 
1889. Rev. E. Davies supplied occasionally from 
January 25, 1893, assumed pastorate with Bethel 
November 12, 1893, closed February 27, 1898. Edu- 
cated at Whitestown." 



I30 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

The following "History of the Second Baptist 
Church of Steuben" is translated from the Welsh 
magazine "Y Wawr" (The Dawn), of April, 1878, 
for which it was written by the late Thomas E. Wil- 
liams (Bryn Gola), secretary of the society: — 

"A history of the incorporation of a number of Welsh 
Baptists from different parts who, by the wise provi- 
dence of God having come to this vicinity, judged it a 
duty as well as a privilege to incorporate themselves 
into a regular church in accordance with the plan of the 
New Testament, for which purpose they met at the 
dwelling of Morris Ellis, in Steuben, Oneida county, 
state of New York, in the year 1803. Those present 
were Morgan Williams, Catherine Williams, Owen 
Owens, Ann Owens, David Williams, Owen Williams, 
Griffith Parry, Ann Parry, Morris Ellis, Mary Ellis, 
Owen Williams, Jane Jones, Elizabeth Owens and Bar- 
bara Owens." 

The result of the deliberations of this meeting was 
that the society "be called the Second Baptist Church 
of Steuben," and all of those mentioned except the last 
two were its charter members. Then came a declar- 
ation of their belief, which does not differ materially 
from that of the general Baptist denomination, except 
that it seems to emphasize the Calvinistic doctrines. 

"The settlement in Steuben, in the year 1795, was in- 
creased by five families from Wales who settled here in 
the heart of the forest, and without means of grace. It 
was three years before there was any addition to their 
number from Wales, when several more families settled 
here, and in 1801 a larger number followed. Among 
them were some of the Whitfield Methodist [Calvinistic 
Methodist] persuasion and a small number of Baptists. 
Brother James Harris and Brother John Stephens who 
had settled in Utica came to visit them and to preach to 
them occasionally, until 1806. The endeavor and labor 
of these men was wonderful. The settlers were poor 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 131 

and few in number at this time, and those ministers had 
to work at manual labor to maintain themselves and 
families. They walked on Saturday afternoons from 
Utica to Rome, a distance of twenty miles, and thence 
through the wilderness to Steuben to preach here on the 
Lord's day. At this time there was no meeting house. 
In 1806 came Brother Richard Jones (Priest Jones), 
from Dyffryn Mawr (Great Valley), near Philadelphia, 
to which city he came from the city of Cardigan, South 
Wales, in the year 1800. Brother Jones labored at 
Dyffryn Mawr where there was a Welsh Baptist church 
incorporated, very successfully until 1806. About this 
time many came from that church to Utica, Trenton 
and Steuben, and called him to be their pastor. He 
served them continuously for fifteen years, and labored 
in ministerial work here from twenty-five to thirty 
years in all. 

"In 1806 a church was built through help given the 
pastor by brethren in Pennsylvania, and God was 
pleased to bless and add many to the church. In 1815 
came Brother John Evans, from Pont-y-pool, Wales, 
who labored partly among the English and among the 
Welsh. In 1818 came Brother Thomas Morgan, and 
he labored jointly with Rev. Richard Jones for more 
than a year, and the Lord blessed their labors by the 
conversion of many. At that time a new church was 
built, the dimensions of which were 32x36 feet. About 
the time Brother Morgan was in Steuben, a number 
of Welsh settled in Turin, Lewis county, and Brother 
Morgan was ordained to labor among them and the 
English Baptists. He removed to Upper Canada, and 
was blessed of the Lord until He called him to his re- 
ward. After Morgan came Brother Joseph Richards, 
formerly of Dolgellau, Wales, and he labored jointly 
with Rev. Richard Jones, and the cause was prosperous 
and the church happy. Then Brother Joseph Richards 
moved to South Trenton. Soon after came Brother 
Griffith Jones, Garn, Caernarfon, North Wales. He 
preached for some months and then entered Madison 
College at Hamilton, N. Y. After graduation he 
preached in the English language, and became pastor 



132 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

of the church at Trenton. On account of ill health he 
returned to Wales about 1820. 

"Then came Brother David Griffith from Merthyr 
Tydfel. He preached in both the English and the 
Welsh language. About this time Brother Richard 
Jones gave up the care of the church after a ministry of 
fifteen years, during which time he baptised upwards of 
seventy. After this the church was for three years 
without a pastor, but enjoyed preaching without inter- 
mission. Brother Abram Williams supplied as minister, 
and Thomas George and Richard Jones occasionally. 
In 1823 Brother Jesse Jones, from Aberystwyth, came to 
the settlement, was called to preach, and the following 
year was ordained pastor. He was very successful in 
calling many sinners to repentance. He removed to 
Radnor, Ohio, in 1830. On December 24, 1823, the 
church building was burned. By the endeavor of the 
brethren and the labor of Rev. Jesse Jones soliciting 
in other churches, another house was built as commo- 
dious as the one destroyed. 

"On May 12, 1825, Richard Roberts was received 
into the church as member. In 1826 he began to 
preach and in 1827 was ordained pastor. He served in 
that capacity until March 21, 1831. In May 1830, 
came Thomas Stephens, from Radnor, Ohio, where he 
had been baptised and ordained. He received a call to 
be joint pastor with Rev. Richard Roberts, and their 
labors were greatly blessed. Members were received 
by letter and sixty-one baptised during the first two 
years they sei'ved the church. On March 21, 1831, in 
annual meeting, the members of the church decided — 
with few dissenting voices — that it would be better for 
one of these brothers to have especial care of the church 
for the following year, and a majority favored Thomas 
Stephens, though no one showed opposition to Brother 
Richard Roberts serving as joint pastor with Stephens. 
But some disapproved of giving preference to one over 
the other, and this faction by the addition of other mem- 
bers became quite strong, so they left the church and 
held meetings elsewhere, with Richard Roberts for pas- 
tor. Efforts were made several times to bring them to 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 133 

terms of agreement, but without avail, and after four 
months some thirty members were dismissed. They 
then incorporated as the 'Third Baptist Church of Steu- 
ben,' and enjoyed a degree of happiness and prosperity. 
Thomas Stephens remained with the old church until 
May 1832, when he removed to Radnor, Ohio. After 
him, and until his return from Wales, in April 1834, 
Joseph Richards, Abram Williams and Richard Jones 
administered the ordinances. In the space of the fol- 
lowing three years there were three others who preached 
for a short time — Thomas Hughes, from Machynlleth, 
Wales, who came to the ministry in 1831, preached for 
a little over a year and then removed to Ohio; Robert 
W. Roberts, who came in July, 1832, preached a few 
months and then joined the Third church, and John 
Hughes, who came in July 1832, and preached until he 
removed to South Trenton in 1834. 

"There were four members of this church that 
were called to the ministry; the first was Robert L. 
Williams, who was baptised in 1819; was familiar 
with, and preached in both the Welsh and the En- 
glish language; united with the English church in 
1824, and was afterward pastor of the English, or 
First Baptist Church of Steuben. The second was 
Richard Roberts who left with those who organized 
the Third Baptist Church of Steuben, and Thomas 
Z. R. Jones, who was baptised in 1818. He left in 
1835 and united with the church at Holland Patent, 
and was ordained as pastor of that church. The 
fourth was Hugh F. Williams, who was baptised in 
1830 and ordained pastor of the church at Western- 
ville, N. Y. 

"Thomas Stephens remained wdth the church after 
his return from Wales for a year or more, or until he 
removed to the state of Ohio. August 12, 1835, a 
call to the pastorate was given to Brother Jesse Jones, 
which was accepted, and he labored among us for 
four years or more. September 2, 1840, call was 
given to Griffith Jones, formerly of Garn, Wales, to 
labor here, and he ministered among us until April 
31, 1841, then call was given to Brother David Prich- 



134 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

ard, who ministered for two years or more, and during 
that time there was discord and failure to co-operate 
in the church. There were some favorable to David 
Prichard, while others were in favor of Jesse Jones 
for pastor. The result was that those who favored 
D. Prichard left and held meetings in other places, 
and on March 12, 1843, notice was given of their dis- 
missal until they should return of their own accord. 
On January 6, 1844, four others were dismissed, and 
all joined the Third Church which had been removed 
from Steuben to a place about half a mile north of 
Remsen village, and was known as Capel Coch (Red 
Church, or chapel). On July 16, 1840, John D. Jones 
was received as preacher, and ordained as pastor in 
1843, and served the church as such until 1850, when 
he removed to Cattaraugus county, in this state. 
In the same year, November 13, David J. Williams 
was installed as pastor, labored with a degree of suc- 
cess for three years and left, dividing the church. 
With those that followed him he organized and built 
a church at Prospect. After D. Williams, the church 
gave a call to Brother Edward Humphreys who re- 
mained its pastor to within a short time of his death, 
which occurred in 1871. During his ministry the church 
was comfortable and peaceable. After the death of 
Edward Humphreys, Brother Owen Griffith was 
pastor for one year. After he left, the church was 
without a pastor. Brothers Owen F. Perry, Morris 

J. Williams, Edwards and others preached 

occasionally until August, 1875, when Brother John 
Seth Jones took charge of the Remsen church and the 
church in Steuben, and faithfully endeavored to serve 
both." 

From the account Mr. Williams has given, it is 
apparent that Peace was not always a guest within 
the gates of Zion. Some of the dissensions noted 
were violent in the extreme, provocative of hot de- 
bates and angry words, resulting in a hopelessly dis- 
rupted union and the most serious breaches of personal 
friendship. The great division which resulted in the 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 135 

organization of another body, from which later the 
Baptist church of Remsen village — miscalled the 
"First" — was the outgrowth, occurred on March 31, 
1831. In consequence of this breach, a council of 
Baptist churches was convened in the Second Baptist 
Church of Steuben, July 7, 1831, where the following 
were represented: Remsen (Bardwell); Steuben 1st 
and 2d churches; Newport; Utica, 1st and 2d churches; 
and Trenton, 1st and 2d churches. Elder R. L. 
Williams of Trenton was chosen moderator, and Elder 
L. Eaton of Newport, clerk. Resolutions were passed 
censuring both factions, and oil was poured upon the 
troubled waters to no avail. The minority would 
not submit to the vote of the majority in the choice 
of a pastor, but seceded and pitched a tabernacle of 
their own. 

They built within sight of the old church, and the 
two were almost within hearing distance of the trumpet 
voiced proclaimers in each ; and though the new church 
was painted red, it is thought not to have had any 
significance, for nothing further was needed to excite 
rancor or to intensify the animosity of either party. 
In any event, they painted their church red, and hence 
it was called Capel Coch (Red Church). After some 
years this building was removed to the west side of 
the turnpike, north of the covered bridge that formerly 
spanned the Cincinnati creek above Remsen village. 

If distance tended to modify the feeling of resent- 
ment between the factions, it certainly did not eradi- 
cate it. Years after the wounds inflicted in the strife 
should have healed, and "Ephraim had ceased to envy 
Judah, and Judah to vex Ephraim," we have seen 
some of these people pass one another on the way 
to their respective churches on a Sunday morning with 



136 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

"faces set like a flint and hearts as the nether mill- 
stone," with no token of recognition; seemingly wholly 
unmindful of former associations in days when they 
took "sweet counsel together and walked in the house 
of God as friends," In the families of a few of the 
participants of that early and unhappy division, this 
state of feeling continued to exist for more than a 
generation. 

In addition to this history of the church given by 
Mr. Williams, he furnishes some notes concerning the 
various pastors who had served it, as well as of some 
of the laymen who were active among its members, 
as follows: — 

"The first who ministered to the people here were 
Brothers James Harris and John Stephens. Of Mr. 
Harris I know nothing except what I have heard. 
He is said to have been an excellent preacher and 
strong in the scriptures. But I knew Mr. Stephens 
personally. He was noted as an evangelist and a 
planter of churches; and not for this alone for he cared 
for and taught the new converts in the doctrine of 
free grace and admonished them to honor religion in 
their daily conduct. He had a church in New York 
city before coming to Oneida county, and this church, 
I was told by one who lived in the city, was exemplary 
in its work before the world. Brother Stephens wrote 
the confession of faith of this (Steuben) church and 
many others. The old brother, Richard Jones, was 
noted for his zeal and for his manly and severe discipline. 
He was always ready to administer the ordinance of 
baptism regardless of the inclemency or severity of 
the weather. David Griffith had great zeal for the 
doctrine of free grace. Brothers Joseph Richards 
and Abram Williams were very faithful, endeavoring 
to help the cause in the face of unhappy circumstances. 
They were strong pillars in defending the faith and 
the truth, and zealous in proclaiming free grace. Rich- 
ard Roberts was noted for his fine mode as a preacher, 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 137 

was incomparable with any in his day, and drew large 
audiences. Jesse Jones was noted as the shepherd 
who cared for the flock and fed them knowingly and 
understandingly. When young, he was very ani- 
mated as a preacher, but as a man always quiet, and 
beautiful in his conduct. There was not enough of 
the fighting spirit in him to defend himself against 
detraction and insult. He died August 6, 1847, 
aged 68 years. Thomas Hughes was an excellent 
preacher, though not very pleasing in his mode. He 
was a devoted student and a faithful pastor. Griffith 
Jones was one of the strongest pillars in defence of 
the truth. He gloried through Christ as our amnesty. 
He died in Wales. Rev. John D. Jones and Rev. 
David Williams made shipwreck of the faith they 
had professed before many witnesses. They are 
now (1878) upholding the hands of those who sustain 
Popery.* 

"Of the laymen, Thomas Z. R. Jones was manly 
in his endeavor for the cause, as was his father, Rev. 
Richard Jones. He was secretary of the church for 
many years and excelled in this office. David R. 
Jones, also a son of the old Brother Richard Jones 
filled the office of Deacon many years and in a very 
acceptable manner. He removed to Granville, Ohio, 
in 1839. I am indebted to him for part of this history. 
David Williams was a faithful Deacon for many years, 
and filled the office in a commendable way. He was 
a most firm leader in discipline, and once having made 
up his mind, it was impossible to move him. He 
was an uncle of Rev. William R. Williams, D. D., a 
distinguished Baptist preacher of New York city. 
He died October 30, 1837. Richard James was a 
faithful Deacon for many years. He lived near where 
now stands the Prospect station in the town of Tren- 
ton. William Davis who lived on the 'Big Hill' near 
Utica, and Owen Morris of South Trenton, were also 
Deacons. These died of cholera. Thomas Abrams 

* These men left the Baptist faith and became identified with a 
denomination which practices infant baptism. Hence Mr. Williams' 
reference to "Popery." 



138 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

was an intelligent brother, well informed in the scrip- 
tures and therefore strong for the truth. He possessed 
great zeal for the ordinances of Christ instituted in 
his church. He died in April, 1875. 

"The church membership in 1827 was 109, and in 
1837, 142. The number had been two hundred or 
more. The admission by baptisms were 118 and by 
letters 42. Dismissed 69, dismissed by letters 80; 
restored 28; lost by deaths 50. We believe there had 
been a membership of about 250." 

About the year 1892 a meeting of the church's 
officers was held at the house of John Ellis in Remsen 
village, where resolutions were passed to abandon the 
old organization in Steuben, and join the Remsen 
church, transferring all property to the trustees of 
the latter. The property consisted of the old church 
building, the burial lot adjoining, and fifty acres of 
land wherein lie the remains of Baron Steuben. This 
land was given in trust to the old Steuben church by 
Colonel Benjamin Walker, the executor of Baron 
Steuben's will, in consideration of their maintaining 
a fence around a five-acre lot wherein the Baron is 
buried, which plot is to be preserved in a state of 
virgin forest forever. It is a matter of regret that 
this plot is not so faithfully and honorably cared for 
as under the supervision of the old church; also the 
old burial lot, where lie many of the early worship- 
pers and not a few others who were among the early 
settlers of this vicinity, is sadly neglected. 

After the separation, under the pastorate of Rev. 
Richard Roberts, the seceders held services for some 
time in the barn of Robert Thomas, who lived in the 
stone house at the foot of Ty Coch hill. Later, their 
church was built south of this stone house. The 
next to minister to them was Rev. William Thomas, 
who remained their pastor for some time, and was 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 139 

succeeded by Rev. David Michael. During the 
pastorate of the latter, the church building was moved 
to the site north of Remsen. Mr. Michael died Feb- 
ruary 11, 1842. About 1846, during the pastorate of 
Rev. James Harris, the society bought a lot in the 
village and built a large church between the Piatt 
mill-pond and Maple avenue, opposite the present 
residence of Dr. Morey; after which the old church 
building was bought by Maj. Samuel Dustin to be 
remodeled for a dwelling. It was moved to a site a 
hundred rods or more east of the highway, about on 
a line with its former location, and here it stood iso- 
lated and forlorn; unaltered in outward appearance, 
its tall windows of many 8 x 10 panes imparting — like 
a clerical cravat on the neck of a layman — an air of 
solemn, ecclesiastic dignity it was no longer entitled to. 
Rev. James Harris was succeeded by Rev. William 
Jones, a devout man and faithful minister, who, about 
1857 or 1858, removed to Salem, Wis., where he con- 
tinued in pastoral work for several years. In 1858 
or 1859, Rev. John W. James came to the society 
from Scranton, Pa., and remained in charge until 
1863 or 1864. He was a forceful speaker and drew 
large congregations, though very few were added to 
the membership during the years of his ministry. 
Then Rev. Stephen Howell served for a time and was 
succeeded by Rev. Ambrose Williams, who came 
from Girard, Ohio. Mr. Williams died here in 1866. 
Rev. Morris Williams, ordained at South Trenton, 
April 23, 1841 was the next pastor, a man of high 
moral excellence and Christian worth, a profound 
thinker, and a very able speaker both in Welsh and 
English. He had previously been pastor of a flour- 
ishing church at Pwllheli, North Wales, which formerly 
had been under the ministrations of Rev. Christmas 



140 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Evans the famous Welsh preacher. Mr. Williams 
died here in October, 1882. The succeeding pastors 
were John Seth Jones, Henry Thomas, and D. P. 
Griffiths. 

The Second Baptist Church of Steuben was named 
"Bethesda," but was commonly called "Capel Isaf" 
(Lower Church) being thus distinguished from "Capel 
Ucha" or Upper Church. Their services were held 
in the homes of the members after the formation of 
the society in 1803. They incorporated April 10, 
1804. As related by Mr. Williams, shortly after the 
arrival here of Rev. Richard Jones, in 1806, through 
assistance given him by members of his former church 
near Philadelphia where he had labored for five years, 
a very creditable building was erected here. 

In time, this building became inadequate to ac- 
commodate the people, so on November 11, 1818, a 
contract was entered into between the trustees of 
the society and John Perry, of Trenton, whereby 
Mr. Perry was to erect a new church to be completed 
by September 1, 1819. In accordance with this 
contract — which affords a rough mind-picture of the 
structure — the building was to be "Erected on the 
site where the old meeting-house now stands; to be 
32 X 36 feet on the ground, and lighted by eight, 28 
lighted windows of 8 x 10 glass; three windows on 
each side and two in the west end. Also, one 24 
lighted window in the front of the east end, with a 
circle over the top." The building was also to have 
"a gallery across the east end, elevated nine feet above 
the lower floor;" and the contractor was to "make 
and erect a pulpit in the center of the west end of 
the building between the windows, and to finish the 
same in a manner and form similar to the one in the 
new church in Trenton, with a good and decent 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 141 

sounding-board over the same." The house was to be 
"constructed with three pillars on each side of the 
interior, extending from the floor to the purlin-plates 
over-head, the same as the aforesaid church or meet- 
ing house in Trenton." 

As previously stated, this building was destroyed 
by fire Saturday night, December 24, 1823, and when 
the people came to worship on the following morn- 
ing they found there only a few smouldering embers 
and occasional puffs of smoke to greet them. The 
fire was supposed to have originated from ashes left 
in the building. No one saw it burn nor knew of its 
destruction until morning, notwithstanding the home 
of Morris Ellis was directly across the road, and 
there were several other dwellings within sight. Un- 
til the church was rebuilt, in 1825, services were held 
in the house of Morris Ellis. 

The name adopted by the Third Baptist Church 
of Steuben (Capel Coch), was Zion, and was retained 
by the organization after its migrations, first to the 
site north of Remsen and thence to its location with- 
in the village; and was continued until the dedication 
of the present church edifice in Main street. Then 
this name, hallowed by connection with sacred his- 
tory and divine prophesy, was discarded and the 
numerical prefix "First" was adopted, a title histor- 
ically inaccurate and misleading. "The first Baptist 
Church of Remsen" was organized at Bard well, in 
1809, and though it may not have existed uninterrupt- 
edly from that date, there had been a regular Baptist 
organization there for many years, and it was still 
alive and active when the Baptist Church of Remsen 
appropriated the title "First," leaving for the Bard- 
well society the title of "Second Baptist Church of 
Remsen." 



142 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

The first Baptist society formed in Remsen town- 
ship was organized June 9, 1809. We are informed 
by Mrs. EveHne Rockwood that, 

"There was a little band of Baptists, who used for 
many years to hold services in the North school-house, 
as the most convenient place at that time. Daniel 
Dayton was deacon. Some of the members lived 
at Alder Creek, some in East Remsen. They were 
a feeble body, and Deacon Dayton was the main- 
stay of the society for many years. They did not 
have stated preaching until the great revival of 1829 
when very many united with the church from differ- 
ent places. Bardwell being the most central place, 
they built a small church there. Among the officers 
of the church were Deacons Daniel Dayton, Samuel 
Bonner, and Nathaniel Rockwood, Jr. Rev. Thomas 
Z. R. Jones of Michigan preached there one summer. 
Rev. William A. Wells was pastor for six years, preach- 
ing at Trenton Falls, Prospect, and Remsen village 
also. Succeeding him was Rev. Philetus Pirsons 
dividing the pastorate between this chui'ch and the 
church at Trenton Falls." 

Capel Bont (signifying the church at or by the bridge), 
east of Remsen, was organized about 1830 or earlier. 

In 1825 Rev. David Morris and others organized 
a Welsh Baptist society at Bardwell, aided by Revs. 
Richard Roberts and Thomas Stephens, and, a little 
later than 1830, the church was reported to have 
about one hundred and fifty members. Rev. Owen 
F. Perry was for many years a most faithful pastor 
of this church. 

An English Baptist society known as the First 
Baptist Church in Steuben, was in existence at Steu- 
ben Corners, we are informed by Rev. John Taylor, 
in 1802, but we cannot find that it was ever incor- 
porated. One of its earliest pastors was a Rev. Holmer. 

A meeting for the organization of a religious soci- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 143 

ety was held at Sixty Acres January 10, 1803, Moses 
Mitchell and Ebenezer Weeks presiding. The name 
adopted was "The First Congregational Society in 
Steuben," and the trustees chosen were Earl Bill, 
Gains Morgan and David Ward. They held meet- 
ings in a log school-house at Sixty Acres, but had no 
regular supply, depending on itinerant preachers 
and the Rev. Joseph Montague, then a resident of 
the locality, to preach to them occasionally. 

The "First Particular Baptist Church of Steuben," 
after due notice having been given by Jotham Mitch- 
ell, was organized January 11, 1823, when Rev. David 
Griffith and Deacon Obadiah Piatt were chosen to 
preside. The trustees elected were Simeon Fuller, 
Robert Thomas, Obadiah Piatt, Joseph Ingham and 
Stephen Brooks, Jr. 

Immediately following the organization of this 
society, or March 11, 1823, we find that "at a meet- 
ing of the inhabitants of Steuben holden at the school- 
house in District No. 3, of said town, a Baptist organ- 
ization of the name and title of the Second English 
Baptist Society in the Town of Steuben" was formed. 
The trustees chosen at this meeting were Stephen 
Brooks, Jr., Robert Potter, Abraham Brooks, Jabez 
Burchard, Jr., and Samuel Sizer, Jr. 

The "First Methodist Episcopal Society of Steu- 
ben" was organized February 13, 1829. David Corey, 
a circuit preacher, and Earl B. Fuller, a licensed ex- 
horter of the Methodist Episcopal church, having 
called the meeting. David Corey and Charles S. 
Brooks were chosen to preside, and the trustees elected 
were John Merrick, Archibald Clarke, William Tripp, 
Jr., Charles S. Brooks and John Shear. This society 
survived the other religious organizations at the 
Comers, eventually holding the field alone. 



144 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

The Welsh Religious Nationalists in Wales, a 
Christian body resulting from a movement organized 
in 1743, separated themselves from the Established 
Church in 1811, and came to be distinguished as 
Welsh Calvinistic Methodists. They ordained from 
a class called exhorters their ownn ministers qualified 
to administer the sacraments, the vote of the enrolled 
members being their consecration to the office. While 
this is a distinct denomination, the doctrine of the 
body is summed up in forty-four articles which cor- 
respond in general to the Westminster Confession 
of the Presbyterian church, and also the church or- 
ganization is Presbyterian. Home missions are sup- 
ported in Welsh-speaking communities, and educa- 
tional work is active among them. 

In dress and appearance the early members de- 
parted in many respects from the prevailing fashions. 
Among other things the men most carefully avoided 
parting the hair above the forehead and turning it 
toward either temple. So important from an eccles- 
iastical point of view was this form of wearing the hair 
that in some parts of Wales a wooden bowl was placed 
over the head when the hair was cut, the scissors 
following round about to put it in the orthodox fashion. 
From this style of cutting the hair came the derisive 
name of "Round Heads" (Penau Crynion), applied 
to them as for a like reason it had been applied to 
the early Puritans, or followers of Cromwell. 

Most of their churches — as were some churches of 
other denominations — were built without lobby or 
vestibule. The doors, one on either side of the front 
of the building, opened directly into the church proper 
in front of the main aisles. The pulpit was between 
the doors, and the congregation sat facing the late 
comer. Upon entering the church, in devout de- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 145 

meaner first smoothing the hair over the forehead, 
some of the men worshipers would drop upon one 
knee behind the door for a moment of silent prayer 
before taking their place in a pew. In all of the Welsh 
churches the women sat upon one side of the house 
and the men upon the other. 

"The First Remsen Whitfield Methodist Society" 
was organized at the house of Moses Jones in Febru- 
ary, 1824. Hugh Owens, Evan Griffith and James 
Owen were the first trustees. A church was built 
at Pen-y-caerau the following summer, and the first 
sermon was preached by Rev. W. G. Pierce, August 
1, 1824. This is said to have been the first Welsh 
Calvinistic Methodist church organized in America, 
though Miss Mary Everett in her historical sketch 
of Capel Ucha', has shown us that on March 19, 1804, 
that church was incorporated as the "First Welsh 
Methodist Society of Steuben," and continued as such 
until April, 1805, when it was reorganized as a Con- 
gregational society, and thenceforward conformed to 
the church polity of that denomination. James 
Owen, a prominent man of the Calvinistic Methodist 
denomination, and nearly thirty others withdrew by 
letters from the church in Steuben, and organized, as 
we have stated, the Pen-y-caerau society. Promi- 
nent in this movement were Lewis Lewis, David 
Anthony, Hugh Owens (father of the late John J. and 
William H. Owens, of Remsen), Moses Jones, and 
Owen Owen, father of the late Morgan Owen. 

Another Welsh Calvinistic Methodist church was 
organized in Remsen village January 1, 1831; and to 
the trustees and their successors, Moses Jones and 
Dinah, his wife, deeded on that date one acre of land, 
whereon was built that year a stone church, "Whit- 
field," so called. The trustees chosen at the time of 



146 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

organization were Hugh Owens, Edward Jones and 
William Prichard. The pulpit of this church was 
supplied by different pastors — Revs. Benjamin Davis, 
David Stephens, Morris Roberts, Edward Reese, 
Thomas Williams, T. T. Evans and others whose 
names are forgotten. Rev. David Williams, known 
as Williams "Llanidloes," had charge of the church 
and others near by for about three years, from 1849 
to 1852. 

The Rev. David Stephens was a devout and earnest 
man, who labored faithfully for the prosperity of the 
church. Such was his fidelity to the cause that he 
sacrificed his time, his means and his health for its 
welfare and progress. He made tours of the Welsh 
settlements in this state and Ohio to raise funds for 
the building, and for extending the Society's field of 
usefulness. Shortly after his return from one of 
these journeys, and laborious they were in those days, 
there appeared here a young preacher from Wales, 
Rev. Morris Roberts. He was a forceful preacher, 
of a kind that Wales in former years sometimes sent 
forth. He located first in Utica, where he remained 
two years, during which time he frequently preached 
to this society in Remsen. 

About this time the influx of Welsh families to this 
section was large, and consequently this church grew 
apace and became a popular and flourishing body. 
The Rev. Roberts soon gained the favor of its people 
to a degree beyond the common measure or propor- 
tion. They clamored for Moms Roberts, and in 
1833 they called him to supersede Mr. Stephens. To 
the latter it was a blow from which he never recovered, 
and crushed and broken-hearted, he died of the 
"wounds received in the house of his friends." 

This treatment of Mr. Stephens eventually reacted 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 147 

upon the church. There still are people living here 
who remember Morris Roberts as he was in his younger 
years, before the fire and enthusiasm of his spirit 
were dimmed by age. He was a man of fine presence, 
endowed with originality of thought and expression, 
possessing a most powerful voice, the compass of which 
from grave to acute and the contrary was a marvel 
to all who heard him preach. He was a veritable 
Boanerges — son of Thunder — who in stentorian tone 
would denounce "the devil and all his works" and de- 
pict the abject ugliness of sin and immorality as few 
othes were capable; then, in milder tones he would 
portray the beauties of virtue and holiness, borrowing 
his similes from nature and the things of every-day 
life, stirring his hearers to the depths of their souls. 

A few years after taking charge here he preached a 
sermon that not only stirred their souls, but roused the ire 
of some of the more conservative and orthodox among 
them. The subject of this sermon was the "power of 
man" (Gallu dyn), in which he advanced views that 
were considered at least unorthodox, if not heretical. 
The sermon created much excitement, and was fruitful 
of argument and discussion on every hand, among both 
ministers and lay people, finally resulting in a summons 
for Mr. Roberts to appear before the bench of ruling 
elders or deacons. He stood firm under this ordeal, 
however, refusing to recant, and shortly after gave 
them some more sermons along similar lines. Alarmed 
at the situation, the deacons sent to the Rev. William 
Rowlands, D. D., of Utica, a pious and learned man, 
requesting him to come to Remsen to combat the argu- 
ments and thus nullify the evil influences produced by 
Mr. Roberts' sermons. Mr. Rowlands responded 
promptly to the invitation, and forthwith proceeded to 
administer an antidote to their poisoned minds in the 



148 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

shape of a powerful discourse in opposition to the views 
maintained by Morris Roberts. 

By this time many of the members had rallied to the 
support of Mr. Roberts, and the situation thus becom- 
ing strained and the relations of the two factions more 
and more unpleasant, he shortly after withdrew, taking 
a large portion of the congregation with him. So the 
stone this church selected for its up-building when it re- 
jected David Stephens, proved the rock upon which it 
split. The seceders organized under the Congrega- 
tional form of government May 22, 1839, held services 
about two years in the Academy, and ultimately united 
with the Association of Welsh Congregational churches 
of this district. Mr. Roberts made collection tours 
through Madison, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties 
in this state, and in the State of Ohio, raising funds 
which, with the contributions of his own people, built 
Peniel church in Remsen about 1841. This church 
thrived, and for thirty-two years under his pastorate 
was counted among the strong religious bodies of the 
community. Mr. Roberts was a zealous advocate of 
anti-slavery, and voiced the sentiments of that party 
almost from its infancy. 

The Black River Circuit, Methodist Episcopal, was 
formed in 1804, embracing the whole northern portion 
of the state. Its appointed ministers that year were 
Revs. Griffin Sweet and Asa Cummins, though it is not 
positively known that they visited this locality to hold 
services. Still, we would infer that they did, as it is 
natural that they should take in all the settlements 
from the Mohawk valley to the northern boundary of 
the state. Griffin Sweet and Seymour Ensign were the 
circuit riders in 1805; Matthew Van Duzen and William 
Vrendenburg, in 1806; Datus Ensign, in 1807; Matthew 
Van Duzen and Luther Bishop, in 1808; Luther Bishop 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 149 

and William Jewett, in 1809; Joseph Willis and Chand- 
ley Lambert, in 1810; William Snow and Truman Gil- 
lett, in 1811; Joseph Kinkead, in 1812; Isaac Puffer and 
Goodwin Stoddard, in 1813; Chandley Lambert, in 1814; 
Ira Fairbank and James Hazen, in 1815; Ira Fairbank 
and Goodwin Stoddard, in 1816; Joseph Willis, in 1817; 
Andrew Prindle and Abraham Lippet, in 1818; Andrew 
Prindle and Henry Peck, in 1819; Nathaniel Reeder and 
Joseph Willis, in 1820; Benjamin Dighton, in 1821; 
Chandley Lambert, in 1822; Truman Dixon, Squire 
Chase and Elijah King (Superintendent), 1823; Ben- 
jamin G. Paddock and N. Salisbury, in 1824; B. G. 
Paddock and Squire Chase, in 1825; John Ercambrack, 
in 1826; Isaac Puffer and Isaac Stone, in 1827; John H, 
Wallace and Isaac Puffer, in 1828; Calvin Hawley, in 
1829; Josiah Keyes and L. Whitcomb, in 1830; and An- 
son Fuller, in 1831-32. And subsequent to 1832, church 
organizations of this denomination were permanently 
established in many of the settlements covered by the 
itinerary of these faithful and self-sacrificing mission- 
aries. 

Some of the earliest and most substantial families 
here were of the Methodist Episcopal persuasion, among 
whom were the Mitchells, Greens, Brooks, Adams, 
Kents, the Witherells and many others. They were 
devout and earnest believers in the principles of early 
Methodism, characterized by simplicity of life and zeal- 
ous efforts to convert the unbeliever. With them all 
public amusements were interdicted, and personal adorn- 
ment considered a transgression. Indeed the Method- 
ists of those days were "a peculiar people, zealous of 
good works," and the outward manifestation of the in- 
ward joys their religious faith afforded them caused 
them to be more or less the butt of ridicule, and by some 
to be regarded as a deluded, fanatical sect. And they 



ISO HISTORY OF REMSEN 

were sometimes ill spoken of in consequence of their 
proclaiming the tenets of a free and full salvation, the 
witness of the Spirit, and a possibility of a falling from 
grace, in contradistinction to the Calvinistic dogmas of 
predestination and election. However, they bore these 
ordeals with meekness, and eventually turned them to 
the benefit of their opposers, we believe, by leading 
them to a more scriptural charity. But with the mod- 
em increase of numerical strength, and wealth of indi- 
vidual members, there has come to them also denomina- 
tional pride, greater conformity to general customs and 
usages, so largely at variance with their former simple 
practices, until the distinctive features of the Method- 
ism of early days are almost entirely obliterated. There 
now is little left in their manner of life or mode of wor- 
ship to distinguish them from most other religious sects. 

"The Methodist Society," says Mrs. Eveline Rock- 
wood, in a letter to us, "had their meetings and sustained 
preaching from year to year. The custom was for the 
minister to lead the class after preaching, when there 
was preaching. The first layman to act as class leader 
that I have any knowledge of was Mr. Harvey Phelps. 
Andrew Nash was a leader for many years, until his 
death, which occurred in 1835. He usually led the 
prayer meetings of his church, and often closed with a 
particular hymn, which I will repeat from memory, as 
I helped to sing it oftentimes when I was present at 
their meetings: — 

" 'This, this is the God we adore. 
Our faithful, unchangeable friend, 
Whose love is as large as his power. 
And neither knows measure nor end. 

" ' 'Tis Jesus, the first and the last, 
Whose spirit shall guide us safe home; 
We'll praise him for all that is past 
And trust him for all that's to come." 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 151 

"At a very early day Methodist quarterly meetings 
were held in the barn of Harvey Phelps, the school house 
being too small to accommodate the people. The gran- 
ary, which was built across the north end of the barn, 
was arranged to accommodate the ministers for pulpit. 
A Rev. Blackburn and Rev. WiHiam Jones, brother of 
Erasmus Jones were early Methodist preachers here, 
as was Rev. Aaron Adams, who was later a presiding 
elder." 



The "First Methodist Episcopal Church of Remsen" 
was organized May 31, 1852, Rev. Aaron Adams, 
pastor. The first trustees were Josiah Griffiths, 
James Ray, Didymus Thomas, Milo Mitchell, Solo- 
mon Dayton, Caleb Steves and Silas Kent. The 
first church edifice of this society was dedicated Tues- 
day, January 4, 1853, and stood where the present 
M, E. church now is. Rev. Aaron Adams, who was 
presiding elder of the Herkimer District in 1840-41, 
when a young man was a teacher of singing and a 
school teacher in Remsen. He was a son of Moses 
Adams, an early settler at Steuben Corners, and was 
born June, 1796. He served as a drum-major in the 
war of 1812. 

The "Second Methodist Episcopal Church of Rem- 
sen" was organized January 27, 1854. Trustees: 
Lewis P. Lewis, Hugh Hughes, Peter W. Jones, Thom- 
as Morgan and Isaac Worden. This was at Fair- 
child, which locality in the early days was a greatMeth- 
odist stronghold. Their services were held in the 
first school-house built in the township, which stood 
east of the old part of the cemetery. About 1841, 
some years before they incorporated as a society, a 
large and commodious church was erected at the 
Comers. It was a very creditable building for the 
times, and stood until the early '70s, when, after 



152 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

having been abandoned except for an occasional 
funeral service when a burial was made in the neigh- 
boring cemetery, it was torn down. 

The "Second Independent Congregational Church 
of Remsen" was organized at Bethel, September 5, 
1842. Trustees: Robert G. Jones, Hugh W. Hughes 
and William N. Davis. 

A society consisting of several members of the de- 
nomination known as "Christians," or "Campbel- 
lites," or as they prefer to be called "Disciples of 
Christ," was early organized at Ninety Six, by Elder 
Cross. Elders Carr and Webb were pastors of this 
society, and held services in the school-house. They 
also held yearly camp-meetings at Ninety Six. 

The "First Calvinistic Methodist Society in the 
Town of Steuben" is at Cobin, organized January 
4, 1856, Rev. Edward Reese and John R. Hughes 
receiving the votes. The trustees elected were Jo- 
siah J. Owen, Griffith E. Griffiths, William J. Owen, 
Robert J. Hughes, Robert E. Jones and Daniel Griffiths. 

The "Welsh Whitfield Calvinistic Methodist Church 
in Steuben" was organized at French Road, June 18, 
1857. The first trustees were John O. Roberts, Evan 
Parry and Robert G. Meredith. 

"The Enlli Welsh Whitfield Methodist Church of 
Remsen" was organized June 1, 1860. 

"The Society of Pen-y-Graig of Remsen" was or- 
ganized and incorporated June 13, 1860. 

"North Steuben Methodist Episcopal Church" 
was formed and duly incorporated November 5, 1864. 
Trustees: George H. Wooleber, John Stannard, Aaron 
Fulmer, Gamaliel Williams, Aaron Fitch and George 
Clark. 

The "Methodist Episcopal Church of Ninety Six" 
was organized April 26, 1895. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 153 

Several of the above organizations were in exis- 
tence long before the dates we have given; these sim- 
ply designating the dates of their incorporation. 

Services of the Protestant Episcopal Church were 
formerly held in the Academy in Remsen village, 
Rev. Brayton, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church 
at Holland Patent and other rectors of that church 
coming here to officiate. 

Ministers of the Universalist denomination at 
various times came here to hold services and to preach, 
their meetings being held in the Academy. 

There have lived here also a few followers of Robert 
Sandaman, founder of the Sandamanian sect. The 
elder of the local society was Humphrey G. Roberts, 
who died here June 1, 1852. 

Some members of an early and prominent family 
of Steuben became converts to the doctrine and prac- 
tices of the "Millenial Church," commonly called 
"Shakers," and removed to Watervliet, N. Y., where 
they joined a colony of that sect. 

A Welsh Methodist Episcopal Society was organ- 
ized at Sixty Acres in the '50s. Revs. John R. Wil- 
liams and Thomas Thomas were its pastors. 

By reason of the cessation of direct emigration 
from Wales to these parts, and the depletion by deaths 
and removals, most of the Welsh religious societies 
that once were so strong and flourishing are now en- 
feebled and waning. With few exceptions, English 
has superceded the ancient language of Wales in the 
churches, and the later American-born generations 
prefer it; but not so with the older, for the native- 
bom Cambrian, next to his God, his country and 
his family, loves his language. While he will labor 
in broken English to transact business and to carry 
on social converse with his American friends and 



154 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

neighbors, he must have his native tongue for relig- 
ion and Uterature. To him the change is of sadly 
vital consequence. 

In former times the churches were watchful over 
the conduct and morals of the individual members, 
and extremely zealous in enforcing what they con- 
sidered a nearly perfect standard of moral and Chris- 
tian ethics, which standard differed widely, it must 
be admitted, from the commonly accepted modem- 
day system of moral principles. Contentions or 
quarrels that arose between members of the congre- 
gation were frequently referred to the church for 
adjudication and adjustment, when, in these matters 
among their own membership, each to some extent 
assumed the powers and jurisdictions similar to a 
court of law. Charges of infraction of some church 
precept, or of misconduct, or of small offenses or omis- 
sions, and even complaints of domestic infelicities 
were submitted to this authority; when the offender 
or delinquent would be cited to appear for trial and 
discipline before the tribunal of "Ruling Elders," or 
before the whole membership body, if the polity of 
the denomination to which the accused belonged so 
provided. 

Trivial indeed, and seemingly unworthy of notice, 
were some of the charges preferred, as will be seen 
by the following authentic cases: A prominent member 
of many years standing was charged with an offense 
so insignificant as that of attending service at a church 
of another denomination, when there were services 
in his own church which he could have attended. 
Expulsion was strongly urged on the part of a few, 
who maintained that on account of the prominence 
of the offender and his long connection with the church 
the act was all the more culpable, as it intensified 



HISTORY OF REiMSEN 155 

what they termed "a bad example." Nor were their 
ministers exempt from the vigilant scrutiny of zeal- 
ous deacons and elders, who, as a pastor once laconi- 
cally remarked, "were made when timber was scarce;" 
and no doubt there was then scant choice of material 
to select from. Rev. Thomas Hughes, who lived in 
the vicinity of the Fuller farm, so shocked and scan- 
dalized his people by picking a mess of peas on the 
Lord's day, stirring up such a spirit of vehement 
disapproval in the church he served, that he soon 
after left these parts. He removed to Ohio, where 
he shortly after died. 

And again, an aged retired pastor, who had long 
and faithfully served a church in which an unfortu- 
nate division had led to the organization of another 
society, was requested to supply the pulpit of the 
seceders for one Sunday, some years after the separa- 
tion had taken place. Believing that it was his mis- 
sion to preach the gospel when, and wherever oppor- 
tunity offered, his whole life having been devoted to 
that end, he readily accepted. For this he was sum- 
marily dismissed from the church he had labored for 
and nourished from the days of its infancy to the 
years of its mature strength, and was forced to seek 
church fellowship elsewhere. 

Shortly after the organization of the Methodist 
Episcopal Society, a young member, daughter of a 
prominent family of the village, was censured for the 
grave offense of wearing artificial flowers in her bon- 
net. Under pain of dismissal the offender was for- 
bidden to continue so sinful a practice, as it not only 
betokened pride and vanity, but was calculated to 
foster in the wearer of such trifling finery a spirit of 
worldliness unbecoming a professor of religion, if it 
did not really constitute an offense against modesty 



156 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

and decency. The innocent cause of the grievance 
was removed from the bonnet, and the transgressor 
permitted to insert a simple ruching in place of the 
flowers. By this compromise was the offense condoned. 

On the other hand, as arbiters the churches accom- 
plished much good; serious disagreements and con- 
tentions are known to have been effectually and 
amicably adjusted in this way instead of by recourse 
to law. But trials for offenses and short-comings 
oftentimes proved vastly disturbing to the peace, 
harmony, and general welfare of the society called 
upon to exercise the judicial power; and not only this, 
but the ill feeling engendered sometimes extended to 
other societies; particularly so if the person tried were 
found guilty and dismissed, and on application was 
admitted to the fellowship of some other body, as has 
occurred, and seemingly received in his new church- 
home with greater demonstrations of joy than is mani- 
fested over the recoveiy of one who had strayed from 
their own "ninety and nine." 

Possibly the churches may have held too lightly 
the right of individual liberty of conscience, and they 
may have been over rigorous in measuring out disci- 
pline. But if it be assumed that they erred, they at 
least erred on the side of safety; and judge them as 
we may, they unquestionably are entitled to admira- 
tion for their whole-hearted devotion to the highest 
ideals they knew. 

A rigid observance of Sunday was most firmly main- 
tained by nearly all professing Christians. Not only was 
every form of labor except the most necessary duties 
avoided, but all signs of mirth and levity were regarded 
as unbecoming, if not absolutely sinful on the Lord's 
Day. Conversation was restricted to sober themes; 
and discussions, when indulged in, were mostly confined 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 157 

to doctrinal questions, then so often the subject of pul- 
pit discourses. While there was diversity of opinion on 
these and other matters of faith, it is a curious fact 
that the doctrine of eternal punishment for the wicked, 
usually the first of the tenets of orthodoxy to be im- 
pugned by one now seeking a more liberal and good- 
natured creed, was then seldom questioned. 

Attendance upon public worship was considered 
obligatory upon all church members, and many who 
had no means of conveyance came long distances on 
foot to fulfill the obligation; and often in like manner 
came those who possessed horses and oxen, for it was 
commonly believed that the precept in the decalogue 
which applies to "thy cattle," as well as to "thyself, 
thy son and thy daughter, thy man servant and thy 
maid servant," should be distinctly and religiously 
observed. 

The early settlers from New England brought with 
them the Puritan custom of observing the Sabbath 
from sundown on Saturday to sundown on Sunday. 
Before night set in on Saturday, all manner of work 
in the former New Englander's home was set aside, 
and the family put on their holiday attire. That 
evening was spent — as was Sunday if there were no 
religious services to attend — in reading sermons or 
the scriptures, or from such other religious books as 
the family possessed. No big dinners were cooked 
on Sunday in those days, though the board was well 
supplied with food prepared the day before; for on 
Saturday was taken from the great stone bake-oven 
beside the fire-place, the roast of meat, huge loaves 
of "rye and Injun" bread, mince pies, pumpkin pies 
and much more, enough to last the family until the 
next baking-day a week ahead. 

Then at sundown on the Sabbath the house-wife 



iS8 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

put away her Sunday gown and cap and kerchief, 
and brought out the spinning-wheel, or took up the 
patch-work quilt, the knitting or the family sewing 
to begin another week's work. And the small boy, 
during the reading of long and tedious sermons rele- 
gated to a seat on the dye-tub in the chimney comer, 
having undergone a general suppression of his buoy- 
ant spirits the entire day, was released to run and 
caper and shout, in short to be a boy once more, doubt- 
less rejoicing in the fact that life is not one eternal 
Sabbath of the kind he had just endured. 

TEMPERANCE CAUSE 

Respecting the use of alcoholic liquors by the early 
inhabitants, it should be borne in mind that total 
abstinence was not incorporated in their "articles of 
religion," or "profession of faith" and the clergy as 
well as laity saw no offence in it. The minister, 
considered the "first best" man among them, was 
served wherever he went with the choicest the house 
afforded in the way of meat and drink; and it was the 
cause of great disquietude to the mind of the worthy 
housewife if the family decanter chanced to be empty 
when he called. Whenever she was thus taken una- 
wares, some young member of the family was secretly 
dispatched by way of the back door to the house of 
the nearest neighbor, and the deficiency supplied. 

No farmer thought of going to his work in the har- 
vest field without a goodly supply of "rye" or alleged 
"New England rum," and at "loggings" and "raisings" 
it was considered a necessity, where it was passed 
round as freely as water is to-day among section hands 
working on a railroad. "Drinking," says one author- 
ity, "was considered no impropriety then, and was 
so common that only the sot, who got dead drunk 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 159 

was censured." Under such conditions then, with 
the traffic in whisky unrestricted and no moral re- 
straint placed upon its use, it was obvious that the 
community could not thrive long, nor advance any 
great degree in moral or intellectual attainments. 
Ultimately, the people awoke to a reahzation of this 
fact. 

An anti-spirits association, organized in Saratoga 
county in 1808, is considered the first modern tem- 
perance society, and this example was soon followed 
elsewhere. The early societies all advocated only 
the restriction to moderation in the use of distilled 
liquors, placing no inhibition on fermented drinks. 
The work made further progress when the American 
Temperance Society was founded, in 1826, and by 
1830 some of the reformers began to inhibit as a bev- 
erage, the use of alcohol in any of its forms, and total 
abstinence pledges were required of all members. 
Soon, small societies were formed here, pledging their 
members to total abstinence from all intoxicants, 
and temperance became a theme in some of the pul- 
pits. Rev. Evan Roberts, a Congregational minis- 
ter, was an early and earnest advocate of the cause, 
as was Rev. Dr. Everett, who came to these parts 
in 1838. In 1841-1843 a wave of temperance swept 
the country. Intense interest was awakened, and 
the greatest efforts promoted in behalf of the cause 
hitherto known. It was called the "Washingtonian 
movement," because it was supposed to be in line 
with the opinions of Martha Washington, whom 
the society had adopted as their patron saint. Branches 
of the society were organized in almost every school 
district, and large gatherings were held throughout 
the state. For years largely attended enthusiastic 
weekly meetings were held in the Academy, where 



i6o HISTORY OF REMSEN 

home talent was brought to the front, some of whom 
became speakers of no small ability. Among these 
was Rev. Erasmus Jones, whose first effort as a pub- 
lic speaker was made here; while about this time he 
also began to be known as a singer of more than or- 
dinary merit. He soon became a teacher and con- 
ductor of large choirs of juvenile singers, who proved 
important allies in the great reformation. 

Some years later the Rechabites,* another tem- 
perance organization, enrolled many members here 
doing valiant service for the cause; and that the 
work of both these societies bore fruit is evident from 
the following, taken from Jones' "Annals of Oneida 
County," where, concerning Remsen he says: — 

"This place was formerly conspicuous for its intem- 
perance, and the means it furnished its own and neigh- 
boring inhabitants. 

"A respectable merchant who has now banished alco- 
holic drink from his store, informed the author that at 
one time he sold 3,500 gallons of whisky in five months. 
He said: 'Such was the press that we did not stop to 
measure it, for when a customer brought a keg, we in- 
quired its capacity, placed it under the tap and filled it, 
rolled it away and under with another.' 'Yes,' said a 
partner who was sitting by, 'and we did not make one 
penny with all the liquor traffic, for at the same time we 
were retailing goods on credit, and with our strong drink 
we sent out among our customers such a flood of bank- 
ruptcy, ruin and death, that in the end we lost more than 
we made by it.' The inhabitants in this cause have 
adopted one of the Welsh traits — perseverance. They 
less rarely break their pledge than any other people. 
Comparatively little alcohol is now used as a beverage. 

* Previous to 1850 Major Andrew Billings added a third storv to 
his store, which gave to the ^^lIage a public hall. There the Rech- 
abites held their meetings, and from this circumstance it for many 
years was called "Rechabite Hall." 



HISTORY OF REMSEN i6i 

There is a Rechabite tent of over one hundred members 
and they are making sober men of the intemperate." 

BURIAL GROUNDS 

For several years after the first settlements were 
established, burials were made in the settlers' "clear- 
ings" in the forest; and as these clearings were very 
limited in area, it resulted that the graves of the dead 
were often very close to the abodes of the living. 
At Ty Coch, the grave of the first wife of the pioneer 
Evan Griffiths, is only a few rods from the door. On 
the adjoining farm east, a short distance from the 
house, are the graves of the wife of Ebenezer Weeks, 
who died in 1797, and of Mr. Weeks who died in 1813, 
and of a young man named Park, who was killed by 
a falling tree in 1805. On Starr's Hill is the grave 
of Sarah, wife of Capt. Joseph Ingham, who died in 
1804, and some others. About two miles south of 
Remsen village, on the farm of Joshua G. Jones, 
which in pioneer days was successively owned by 
Jacob Nash and Filkins Beadle, may be found a short 
distance north of the house and between the high- 
way and the R. W. & 0. railroad tracks, the graves 
of several of the pioneers of that part of Trenton 
township, notably of John MacDonald and Andrew 
Nash, who once were well-known in the community. 
The former died in 1824, and the latter in 1835. The 
markers that once identified the graves of those 
buried here have fallen and been covered from sight 
by the grass and weeds of years' accumulation, while 
the inscriptions yet visible on the stones are nearly 
or quite illegible. Half a mile south of the village, 
upon the top of the hill, thirty rods or more west of 
the highway, are the graves of Owen Jones, a veteran 
of the war of 1812, and of his father and mother, who 



i62 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

settled this farm, known as Pen-yr-allt, as early as 
1801. On the Dayton farm, in East Remsen, the 
Dayton family burial plot we are informed is walled 
about and still cared for. 

The first burial in Capel Ucha' Cemetery, in Steu- 
ben, was that of Gwen Jones, aged nineteen years, 
daughter of Deacon William C. Jones, who died 
September 30, 1798. Mr. Jones and John Evans 
(Boon) cut the first trees on this lot to clear a space 
for this young woman's grave. When the stone 
church adjacent to this cemetery was built, in 1820, 
her remains were removed and the church built over 
the location of her first grave. At the time of the 
first burial this lot was held by Griffith Rowland un- 
der a lease issued by Baron Steuben to John Piatt, 
Sr., but by the executor of the Steuben estate, for 
a nominal sum a deed was given to the church so- 
ciety, Mr. Rowland at the same time relinquishing all 
rights he might be entitled to under the lease. 

The late Smith Nichols is authority for the state- 
ment that the first burial in Fairchild Cemetery was 
that of a colored man, a servant or slave of James 
Sheldon. The first white person buried there was a 
young man named Theodore Rogers, a nephew of 
the late Bohan Smith. 

Graves in this section were sometimes desecrated 
by the students of Fairfield Medical College. Fre- 
quently after a burial, watch was kept for several 
nights by men armed with old-time flint-lock muskets. 
The watchers usually secreted themselves in the 
church, where one was contiguous to the cemetery, 
but in those remote from church buildings lights were 
displayed upon the newly-made grave, and these 
watched from some convenient shelter or house nearby. 

Simon Didama, a resident of Trenton village, buried 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 163 

a young daughter, and upon visiting the grave within 
a day or two after, discovered it had been disturbed; 
and suspecting robbery at once proceeded to have it 
reopened in order to verify his suspicions. His neigh- 
bors endeavored to dissuade him from his purpose, 
believing there was slight chance to recover the body 
were it proved to have been stolen. However, the 
grave was opened, and as suspected, the body was 
gone. As may be imagined, the discovery created 
great excitement, and the feeling of resentment 
against the institution at Fairfield ran high. The 
whole country was roused, and a band of men armed 
with muskets and clubs marched to Fairfield, their 
number being largely augmented by indignant citi- 
zens along the way until they arrived before the doors 
of the institution about four hundred strong. Here 
they announced the purpose of their coming, demand- 
ing the body that had been stolen. The college faculty 
denied all knowledge of the affair, and seemed indig- 
nant that the institution should be accused or even 
suspected of such an outrage against public decency. 
But when the determined men announced their pur- 
pose of setting fire to the college buildings if the body 
were not returned to them at once, it was finally agreed 
that it should be delivered to a committee, at a point 
near Trenton, on the following night, which was done, 
and the citizens exacted an assurance of immunity 
from any further depredations of the sort, threaten- 
ing the utter destruction of the college should their 
dead ever again be disturbed by them. 

The stem uprising had a most wholesome effect, 
for in the records of the college under date of January 
19, 1819, we find a resolution passed by the board 
of trustees to, "dismiss any student who shall be 
concerned directly or indirectly in digging up any 



i64 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

dead human body, for the purpose of dissection in 
the College." 

There was a cemetery at the first location of Capel 
Coch, in Steuben, south of the stone house of Wil- 
liam Evans, near the foot of Ty Coch hill; and at the 
location of Capel Bont, which stood on the northeast 
corner of the road from Pen-y-caerau to Fairchild, 
where it intersects the road leading east from what 
was formerly known as the Phelps mill on the turn- 
pike. 

Through the munificent benefactions of individuals, 
Prospect Cemetery, located at Prospect village, two 
miles east of Remsen, is justly considered one of the 
most beautiful rural cemeteries in this section of the 
state. The first burial was made here in 1824. In 
recent years the late Thomas C. Jenkins, of Pitts- 
burgh, Pa., a native of Prospect, presented the Ceme- 
tery Association with fifteen acres of land adjacent 
to the old cemetery lot, and through annual gifts 
while he lived, continued by his heirs since his death, 
substantial and beautiful improvements have been 
made to the grounds. 



CHAPTER IX 

SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS 

The early school-houses were built of logs, and had 
only the most primitive and restricted accommoda- 
tions. The first in Remsen township stood a little 
east of the old part of Fairchild Cemetery, built on 
land donated for the purpose by Gershom Hinckley; 
and the second was in the Dayton district and known 
as the "North School House," these for several years 
being the only places for public worship in the town- 
ship. The one at Fairchild was destroyed by fire, 
and between 1820 and 1830 a new school-house was 
built, half a mile west of the Corners. In Steuben 
township a log school-house was early built at the 
Comers, and another near the Captain Fuller farm, 
while somewhat later there was one at Starr's Hill. 
The latter was first presided over by Dr. Earl Bill, 
who at that time was a young physician having but 
little practice in the sparsely settled forest country, 
and who taught school winters. Heman Ferry, a 
young man possessing much ability and very little 
money, also taught this school. It is told of him that 
before entering upon his duties as teacher, he bor- 
rowed sixpence from one of the trustees with which 
to buy a pen-knife to use in making and mending the 
children's pens. In after life he became one of the 
most successful business men of Remsen. 

The first school-meeting of the Remsen village 
district, known then as "District No. 1," was held 
September 4, 1813. Joseph Halstead was moderator, 



i66 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

and Heman Ferry was clerk. The trustees chosen 
were John Piatt, Lemuel Hough and Ezra Green. 
This district embraced portions of the townships of 
Steuben and Trenton contiguous to the village. The 
first school-building here was that known as the 
"District School," which stood at the north end of 
the village, where is now the residence of George 
Williams. When first built it was a framed wood 
structure twenty-four by twenty-eight feet, its side 
facing the road. The door was in the northwest 
corner, and in the north end was a huge fire-place, 
with a great hearth like those found in most of the 
dwellings of those days. The writing desks were broad 
boards, placed in a slightly slanting position against the 
sides of the room. When the pupils wished to write, 
they sat with their backs to the teacher — and those 
boards in later years still displayed the genius, in- 
dustry and perseverance of the rising generations, 
much labor having been spent in carving curious images, 
gouging great holes, and cutting notches from a half 
to four inches in depth along the edges. Two rows 
of primitive benches ranged round the room; a water- 
pail and tin dipper, in a convenient place on a block 
of wood; a splint-broom, hanging by a tow string near 
the door; an old style splint-bottom chair, and a long 
wooden poker for the fire, constituted the equipment, 
and presents a picture of this "nursery of learning," 
as given to us by one who was an attendant there in 
early days. This old school-house was the educa- 
tional, religious and social center of the community 
for a number of years, or until the Academy was built. 
One winter morning a Mr. Dart, who lived north 
of the village, early on his way to work in the shoe- 
factory of Col. Mather Beecher, discovered a light 
in the school-house, and investigating, found it on 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 167 

fire, but by throwing snow upon the blaze succeeded 
in extinguishing it. Still the fire had so damaged 
the north end of the building that the trustees de- 
cided to remove the chimney and fire-place, and in- 
stall a box-stove to heat the room, while a pulpit 
was placed where the old chimney stood. As there 
was no church building, the pulpit was provided for 
the accommodation of itinerant preachers, and on 
week-days was utilized as a receptacle for the hats, 
overcoats, hoods, shawls and lunch-baskets of the 
pupils. Later on the building was remodeled,in order 
to accommodate the pupils from the Academy which 
in the meantime had been established and discontinued. 
Some thirty-odd feet were added to the north end, mak- 
ing the total length of the building about sixty-six feet, 
with the door in the center, facing the road. There 
was a bell-dome or cupola on the center of the roof, 
in which was hung the bell taken from the Academy. 
This bell was later used on the Union School build- 
ing, erected near the stone church after the District 
School building was abandoned in 1868 or 1869. 

The new addition to the old school-house was more 
modern in its arrangement, having seats with backs 
to them, and desks at which two pupils could sit. 
Like all country school-houses of its day that were 
honored in this respect at all, it was painted red. 
Folding doors separated the new structure from the 
old, the latter being used for the primary department. 

The requirements of teachers were in keeping with 
the surroundings described. One qualification was 
highly necessary, the ability to make and mend a 
pen, which was always fashioned from a goose quill. 
No particular time was assigned for writing practice, 
and the teacher was likely to be called upon at any 
time to mend a pen or set a copy. The atlas, now 



i68 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

considered indispensable in the study of geography, 
was unknown in the first schools; neither was the 
blackboard in use, nor any other school apparatus 
for the better illustration of studies, nor was there 
any uniformity in the text-books in use. Each child 
brought such school books as the family possessed — 
those their older brothers and sisters had studied, or 
the books their parents had used before them. Often- 
times there would be in the same class a variety of 
text-books, by as many as six or more different au- 
thors; but always among the standards were "The 
English Reader," "Murray's Grammar," "Daboll's 
Arithmetic," and "Webster's Spelling Book." The 
expression "beyond the pictures," once in common 
use to note a child's progress in the art of reading, is 
said to have had reference to the last named text- 
book — the easy lessons were illustrated, and "beyond 
the pictures" came the more difficult reading. 

The athletic training which now forms so impor- 
tant a part of the curriculum in many schools would 
have been superfluous in those days, unless such train- 
ing could have been bestowed upon the teacher; for 
in employing one for the winter term when a greater 
number of strapping, husky youths were in at- 
tendance, it was particularly essential to select such 
a one as could "handle the boys." In the school, as 
in the home, the maxim "spare the rod and spoil the 
child" was given the greatest credence, and was re- 
ligiously observed. Physical as well as mental disci- 
pline was considered indispensable to the proper 
training of youth, and the teacher was not only ex- 
pected, but required, to perform his part. 

Teachers were given board in addition to the small 
salaries received for their services, necessitating their 
conformity to the then universal custom of "board- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 169 

ing 'round;" that is, the teacher lived in the famihes 
of the various patrons of the school, the time he should 
spend in each family as a boarder being determined 
by the number of children the household had in at- 
tendance at the school. This method of apportion- 
ing the expense for school privileges was considered 
an equitable one, and usually was welcomed by most 
patrons, who could furnish the required accommoda- 
tions better than they could part with currency, 
very little of which came to their purses in those times. 
From the following receipt dated April 19, 1819, given 
one of the trustees of the Fairchild district by a 
farmer of the neighborhood, we find that the expense 
of laundering the teacher's clothes also was sometimes 
provided by the school board, for it reads: "Rec'd 
Four Dollars in full for Washing the School Teacher's 
clothes for ten months." 

The Academy at Steuben Corners was incorporated 
by the State Legislature April 17, 1826, and admitted 
by the Regents January 29, 1828. The first trustees 
were John Phillips, Daniel M. Crowel, Russel Fuller, 
Henry Storm, Abram Brooks, Thomas H. Hamilton, 
Chester Porter, Alfred Gillet, Joseph Ingham, Oba- 
diah Piatt, Luther Guiteau, Elijah F. Willy, Samuel 
Sizer, Jotham Mitchell and George Brayton. 

About this time or a little later, anticipating the 
advantages that would be derived from an advanced 
school in the village, some of the more enterprising 
citizens of the community began to agitate the ques- 
tion of building an Academy. The nearest institu- 
tion of the kind was that at Steuben, where some of 
the young people were sent after completing their 
studies in the common branches here. But the dis- 
tance, coupled with the difficulties encountered in 
going to and from that school over the Steuben hills 



I70 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

during the winter months, were serious objections, 
and Steuben Corners being a mere hamlet, the facil- 
ities for accommodating students there were extremely 
meager. 

Accordingly an Academy at Remsen village was 
built, prior to 1829, occupying the site of the present 
residence of Augustus Owens. The hill against which 
the building stood was excavated to some distance, 
and a wall of limestone built at the rear and at either 
side, one story high, upon which a framed story was 
added, while the entire front of both stories was of 
wood. The upper part was designed to accommodate 
"Rising Sun Lodge" of Free Masons as a lodge room, 
they having contributed liberally toward the cost of 
the building. This part, however, though used by 
them was not completed, the interior walls not having 
been plastered at the time Free Masonry fell into 
disrepute on account of the alleged murder of William 
Morgan, and when "Mason and Anti-Mason" became 
a political issue, these lodge-rooms suffered from the 
virulent attacks made upon them by the Anti-Mason 
faction in the early '30s. 

While the Academy was never incorporated, and 
consequently not under the supervision of the State 
Board of Regents, it nevertheless gained much dis- 
tinction as an institution of learning. Students came 
from distant parts of the county, and also from Herki- 
mer and Lewis counties. It was discontinued as an 
Academy in the early '50s, though during succeeding 
years several terms of private or "select school" were 
taught here. Services of the English Congregational 
church were held here after 1829, and the English 
Methodists and others used the upper part for church 
services after the Masons had abandoned it. In the 
early years of the building's existence, in a belfry 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 171 

that lent dignity to the structure there was hung a 
steel triangle, used to summon the pupils, and also 
the congregations to religious services. Later the 
triangle was replaced by a bell, which is still doing 
duty, calling the children of to-day from youthful 
pastimes to more serious pursuits, as it called their 
parents and grandparents in years gone by. For 
three generations its clarion tone has sounded through 
the valley and over the hills; and to-day it awakens 
in the "old home comer" memories of the long ago, 
as no other sound can awaken, bringing to mind the 
many scenes made joyous by associations with youth- 
ful friends and companions who now are scattered 
over the broad land, or gone forever beyond the sound 
of all earthly calls. 

The first teacher in the township of Remsen was 
Ezekiel Fairchild, who taught in the log school-house 
at Fairchild. Rev. John Taylor informs us in his 
Journal that at the time of his visit here in 1802, a 
man "who called himself Alexander obtained a school 
and set up preaching;" and then adds, "who and what 
he is I know not, but that he is some notorious villain 
I have no doubt." He leaves us in darkness, how- 
ever, as to the ground for his suspicions and harsh 
criticism of the man. The vicinity of Fairchild was 
the most thickly settled portion of the township at 
the time of Mr. Taylor's visit, while the location of 
the village of Remsen and contiguous territory con- 
tained not more than four or five families. 

The first school teacher in the township of Steuben 
was Moses Adams, who taught at Steuben Corners 
before 1800 and was succeeded in later years by his 
son, Aaron Adams. Moses Adams was teaching 
here in 1802, and had a class of thirty-five pupils. 
Broughton White, who had been a member of Baron 



172 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Steuben's household, also taught a school of about 
twenty pupils near the Fuller farm. Among the 
latter's pupils were the late Moses Jones and his sis- 
ter Nancy (Mrs. William Owens), they coming from 
what is now Remsen village, as this was then their 
nearest school. A little later, but prior to 1805, some 
one whom we are unable to name taught in the old log 
church, Capel Ucha'. Among his pupils were John 
and Owen Jones (Pen-yr-allt), and Robert M. Jones. 

Broughton White, the first teacher in Remsen vil- 
lage district, was chosen by the trustees for the win- 
ter of 1813-1814. Austin Ward, also a teacher of 
singing, and in later years several times a candidate 
for governor on the Anti-slavery ticket, was a teacher 
in this district. 

We can not designate all the teachers in the Remsen 
district, nor even the order of their terms of service, 
though prominent among them were the following: 
Broughton White; Eleazer Green; Albert White, son 
of Broughton White; Baldwin Tuthil, brother of 
Vincent Tuttle, of Holland Patent, but who spelled 
his name T-u-t-t-1-e; Catherine Bogue, daughter of 
Rev. Publius V. Bogue, of Paris Hill, and sister of 
the second wife of Sylvester Burchard ; Susan Johnson, 
afterward the wife of Dr. Earl Bill; Thomas Z. R. 
Jones, who later went as a missionary to the Terri- 
tory of Michigan; the Misses Pardee, of Trenton 
Falls; and Margaret Stebbins, later Mrs. Henry Thomp- 
son, all of whom taught here previous to 1825. Sub- 
sequently there were Aaron Adams; Thomas Hawley; 
Alfred Hough; a Mr. Fish, of Holland Patent; Lester 
Fowler; Mary Fowler; Amy C. Phelps; Evan Owens, 
of Fairchild, who also taught in other districts, and 
for some years was town superintendent of schools; 
William White; a Miss Hall; a Mr. Fox; a Mr. Gurney, 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 173 

who lived on Steuben creek above Trenton village; 
Broughton W. Green; Eveline Allen, later Mrs. Na- 
thaniel Rockwood, Jr.; John D. Tefft; George Graves; 
John McClusky, who afterward held the office of 
postmaster at Alder Creek for nearly fifty years; a 
Mr. Hamlin, of Holland Patent; Emily Underbill; 
S. Amelia Griffiths; a Mrs. Joy; Mary A. Griffiths, 
who became Mrs. William P. Owens; a Miss Hughes, 
of South Trenton; David J. Evans; the Misses Mar- 
garet and Phoebe Nichols; the Misses Mary and Annie 
Roberts; and George Bennett, of Hinckley, who was 
the last to teach in the old district school-house. 

An advanced school was taught for a time in a 
part of the Colonel Beecher residence, before the 
Academy was built. The first principal of the Acad- 
emy, a Mr. Williams, held the position for several 
years, and was succeeded by George Guiteau, son of 
Dr. Luther Guiteau, Sr., of Trenton, a very success- 
ful teacher; a Mr. Meigs, who married a Miss Hamlin, 
of Holland Patent, and who removed to Watertown, 
where he died; a Mr. Verry; a Mr. Ames; Daniel 
Morgan, of Trenton; and John A. Ryerson. When 
the Academy had ceased to rank as such, private 
schools were taught by different ones in that build- 
ing and elsewhere in the village, among whom was a 
Mr. Zwerkferger; John A. Ryerson; Herbert Morris, 
son of Daniel Morris, of Prospect, who later became 
a distinguished Presbyterian minister, of Rochester, 
N. Y.; the Misses Everett, daughters of Rev. Dr. 
Everett; Emily Phillips (Mrs. Fowler); Dean M. Jen- 
kins, son of 'Squire Jenks Jenkins, of Prospect, who 
was assisted by a Mr. Zollar, who subsequently be- 
came head master on the retirement of Mr. Jenkins. 
The latter school flourished in the early '60s, and 
was the largest private school ever conducted in 



174 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Remsen, embracing all grades from the primary to 
advanced commercial branches. Among the earli- 
est private schools taught in Remsen was that of 
Louisa Piatt, daughter of John Piatt, who in a very 
early day taught a class in the house which stands 
on the south comer of Main and Steuben streets, and 
later in the Deacon Hugh J. Hughes house, in the 
south part of the village, the latter house then being 
owned by Sylvester Burchard. Abbie Piatt taught 
in the John Piatt house, which was later the home of 
Owen S. Evans; and Maria Smith had a private school 
in what was known as the Johnson house, later and 
for many years the home of Rev. Morris Roberts. 
A Miss Colburn was governess in the family of Maj. 
Andrew Billings, where a few select pupils were per- 
mitted to attend. 



CHAPTER X 

INCIDENTS AND REMINISCENCES 

After the revolution there rankled in the breast of 
many a pioneer in the frontier settlements a deep- 
seated prejudice against the Indian, and among our 
own pioneers there were a few who never could tol- 
erate their presence. They had little fondness for 
any of the savage race whose dexterous skill with 
tomahawk and scalping-knife had wiped out many a 
family in earlier border communities, and that too 
at a period not so remote as to be effaced from the 
memory of some of those who had come from the 
near-by Mohawk country, where such outrages re- 
peatedly had been committed. There still lingered 
in the minds of all a latent fear, enhanced by occa- 
sional rumors that savage hordes in Canada were 
preparing themselves and might descend upon them 
at any time, like wolves upon a fold. 

Nor was this fear without a reasonable foundation; 
for after the revolution some of the Indian tribes 
that had allied themselves with the British located 
in Canada, where also numerous Tories took refuge, 
having been driven from their homes by the wrath 
and scorn of indignant neighbors on account of their 
disloyalty to the colonies, and by the confiscation of 
their lands by the state. These Tories, the settlers 
argued, were not above instigating marauding bands 
of Indians to fall upon the settlements and repeat 
some of the fiendish acts they had proved themselves 
so capable of committing. But it chanced that the 



176 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Indians seemingly had satisfied their desire for carnage, 
or perhaps still were cowed by the remembered sting 
of General Sullivan's correcting rod, for they certainly 
never molested the settlers here; and hence we are 
thankfully spared the painful necessity of recounting 
in our annals of Remsen so blood curdling an atrocity 
as an Indian massacre. 

However, for many years after the first settlements 
were made here, Indians from Canada and the va- 
rious State reservations continued to pass through 
these townships, and oftentimes came in quite large 
numbers establishing camps near the streams, where 
they fished, trapped, hunted and plied their various 
avocations, remaining for weeks at a time on their 
favorite camping sites. One of these was near the 
John G. Jones woolen-mill, just south of Remsen vil- 
lage; another about a mile south, near the large boulder 
on the "lime-kiln farm;" while frequently some of 
them camped on the banks of the Cincinnati, near 
the Tinman place, north of Remsen. Their tepees 
were made of poles set upon end in the ground, con- 
verging to a center at the top, and this framework 
then covered with hemlock bark and browse; the 
several tepees being so arranged as to form a circle 
twenty feet or more in diameter. In the center of 
this circle a fire was kept burning, over which the 
occupants did their cooking. 

Among the industries they busied themselves about 
was the manufacture of splint-brooms, which they 
made from small birch saplings, cut into lengths of 
about five feet; then, by shaving the pole for a foot or 
more from one end, and permitting the shavings to 
adhere to the stick until a sufficient bunch had thus 
been pared to form a brush five or six inches in di- 
ameter, it was turned downward and bound about 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 177 

with deer thongs; after which the remaining portion 
of the stick was smoothed for a handle. The squaws 
made baskets, bead-work, and fancy articles from 
birch bark, ornamented with highly colored porcu- 
pine quills, all of which, including the brooms, were 
sold or bartered among the whites for food. Those 
who were sent on hunting expeditions often returned 
with game, perhaps a deer or a bear, portions of which 
were also exchanged with the settlers for salt pork 
and other products of the farm. 

An Indian, whose name and tribal connection are 
now forgotten, was wont to make periodical journeys 
through Remsen on his way to and from the Adi- 
rondacks, when he frequently stopped at the home 
of Rev. Richard Jones, about half a mile south of the 
village at the foot of Pen-yr-allt hill. Here he was 
ever provided with food, also with robes and skins 
to make for himself a comfortable bed in the barn. 
One winter evening he appeared, asking permission 
to spend the night. After supper, when given the 
robes for his bed in the barn, he remonstrated, saying 
he must be permitted to sleep before the fire-place 
in the house. As the weather was not severe, Mr. 
Jones was at a loss to understand why he made this 
demand, and why his general bearing was so unusual. 
It indeed created no little alarm in the minds of 
the involuntary host and hostess, who feared that 
harm was intended; but being alone, and unable to 
cope by argument or otherwise with their master- 
ful and insistent guest, they yielded to his wishes. 
Upon their retiring, the Indian rolled himself in the 
robes upon the floor, lying with his head toward the 
fire. 

As may be supposed, the circumstance was not of 
a kind to promote ease and tranquillity in the minds 



178 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

of the good dominie and his wife, nor conducive to 
sound sleep on their part. Their room opened off the 
living-room or kitchen where the Indian had stretched 
himself, and sometime during the night they discerned 
his moving shadow upon the wall, though hearing 
not the slightest sound. Presently, however, they 
were startled by the report of a gun discharged within 
the house. Hastily rising, Mr. Jones discovered 
that the Indian had passed from the fire-lighted room 
to a dark hall or corridor extending through the house, 
and was now standing at the outer door, which he 
had opened the length of the bolt-chain, and where 
he stood with his musket in hand. Upon their startled 
inquiry, the Indian motioned Mr. Jones to silence 
and made his exit through another door, creeping 
stealthily around the outside of the house. After a 
time, apparently satisfied that there were no intruders 
to be found, he re-entered, explaining to his mystified 
host and hostess why he had come there at this time 
and why he had insisted on sleeping in the house in- 
stead of in the barn as on former occasions. 

It appeared that on the previous afternoon while 
at a tavern at Trenton, he was seated in the chim- 
ney-corner near two men who were engaged in a low- 
toned conversation; and, feigning sleep or drunken- 
ness, he was able to gather much that they were talk- 
ing about, they paying little attention to the "drunk- 
en Indian." It developed that they were planning 
to rob the home of Mr. Jones that night, supposing 
him to have a considerable sum of money in the house. 
Finally the Indian quietly left the tavern and walked 
to Mr. Jones' residence, a distance of nearly four 
miles, and, as we have shown, acted as their guardian 
and defender. Daylight revealed blood-stains upon 
the snow, showing that the Indian's shot had taken 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 179 

effect, though no further evidence concerning the 
marauders was ever obtained. 

These "noble Romans of the west," as one writer 
has called our North American Indians, were usually 
appreciative of favors extended them, and showed 
the settlers here their gratitude in many ways. How- 
ever, there were those among them who were not 
above petty pilfering, and, from either friend or foe, 
were disposed to carry away anything that suited 
their fancy, especially so where it chanced that there 
were none but women or children to oppose them. 

On one occasion an Indian and his squaw stopped 
and demanded food near Bardwell, at a house sur- 
rounded by a fine young orchard. The family were 
poor, and had but little to eat in the house; so when the 
food was not forthcoming, the Indian surmising there 
were no men about became abusive, and finally this 
"noble Roman" went into the orchard and for amuse- 
ment, or perhaps seeking to emulate "the Father of 
our Country," with his tomahawk began to hack 
down the young apple trees. The woman of the 
house rushed out, calling to Green White, a noted 
hunter, trapper and "Indian Slayer" who lived alone 
in a cabin within hailing distance, who promptly re- 
sponded, bringing his flint-lock musket — a trusted 
companion never very far from his hand, whether at 
home or abroad. When the circumstances were hur- 
riedly made known to White, he raised his weapon, 
leveled it at the Indian's heart and fired; but the 
woman struck up his arm as he was about to pull 
the trigger, and the ball entered the side of the house 
above the Indian's head. White then told the mis- 
creant that, as his life had been saved by a woman, 
in future to cease intimidating them when he fancied 
them alone and unprotected, and to hasten from 



i8o HISTORY OF REMSEN 

his sight lest he even now repent having spared him. 

In the fall of 1791, Col. Marinus Willett, having 
been ordered to make an expedition into the Mohawk 
country at the head of about four hundred men, sur- 
prised a party consisting of six hundred Tories and a 
hundred and thirty Indians at Johnstown, drove 
them into the woods, and severely distressed them 
by cutting off their retreat to their boats. About this 
time Colonel Willett was joined by sixty Oneida In- 
dians — which tribe it will be remembered was the 
only one of the Confederacy that remained friendly 
to the Americans — and, shortly after, he came up 
with a party which formed the rear guard of the Brit- 
ish and Indians, most of whom they killed or took 
prisoners. 

In the retreat of those who escaped, among whom 
was the deservedly hated Walter Butler of Cherry 
Valley infamy, an Indian trail along West Canada 
creek was followed. They crossed the stream here 
some distance above the Gang Mills — or Hinckley, 
now called — at a point long after known as "Butler's 
Ford." Here Butler was wounded by one of Willett's 
Indians, who shot from a considerable distance, just 
as the renegade was about to ford or had forded the 
stream. As the Indian rushed upon him after he fell, 
Butler cried for quarter; whereupon the Indian ex- 
claimed in broken English: "Sherry Valley! remember 
Sherry Valley!" at the same time cleaving his head 
with a tomahawk. 

The location or the supposed location of this tragedy 
was marked many years ago by a monument. It 
was erected by we know not whom, whether by men 
of Tory sentiments and out of commiseration for the 
fate of Butler, as some have contended, or by those 
concerned only in marking the spot as one of historic 



HISTORY OF REMSEN i8i 

interest. However, as some doubt has been expressed 
as to the monument marking the precise location of 
the affair, we would say that one who was familiar 
with that part of the stream in early days and who 
visited the place after the monument had been erected, 
stated that the ford at which the fleeing band crossed 
was farther down the creek; that, on account of a 
dam having been constructed at the Hinckley mills, 
the creek was no longer fordable at the point where 
Butler and his men had crossed. The monument was 
carried away by a freshet in the spring of 1869. 

REMINISCENCES OF STEUBEN 

The following brief reminiscences of Steuben were 
furnished by Simeon Fuller, who was born and reared 
in that township, and are printed just as he wrote 
them: — 

"Capt. Simeon Woodruff, an old sea captain and a 
graduate of a New England college — a midshipman 
on board Captain Cook's vessel and with the latter 
on shore when he was killed by the Sandwich Islanders, 
was one of the earliest settlers here. His farm ad- 
joined that of Captaia Fuller. Bears were plentiful 
in those days, and he trapped a good many of them. 
On one occasion a big one got into his trap. Wood- 
ruff was very lame, so he called in a couple of his neigh- 
bors, his nephew and a man by the name of Francis, 
to help kill the bear. The Captain was armed with 
a Queen Anne flint-lock musket that carried an ounce 
and a half ball, Francis with an axe, and the nephew 
with a club. They soon came up with the bear, 
which, instead of trying to get away reared up on her 
hind legs and came slowly for them, gnashing her 
teeth and growling. The Captain leveled his musket 
and pulled trigger, but it missed fire. He kept on 
snapping the trigger, and the bear kept coming nearer, 
when his neighbors took to their heels, shouting to the 



i82 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Captain to run. When the bear got within about four 
feet of the muzzle of the gun, it went off and dropped 
her dead. The old man turned, and called out: 'Run, 
cowards, run!' They said they were never so ashamed 
of anything in their lives — to leave the old man who 
could not run, and having with them the only weap- 
ons good for anything in a rough-and-tumble fight 
with a bear. 

"He married a young and pretty girl after he moved 
into Steuben. He was sick a long time and his wife 
thought it would be well to be ready for the funeral; 
so had her mourning suit made, and came to her 
husband's bedside to have him pass judgment on it 
as a mourning suit. He said it became her very much, 
and he liked it. He was buried near the stone church, 
half a mile west of Remsen, by the Free Masons. 
Not a stone marks his grave. He was high in the 
Masonic order. The location of his grave is well 
known. 

"A family of Burchards settled near Baron Steu- 
ben's house, at Sixty Acres, and several of the younger 
members of the family were born there, I believe. 
Among them was the Rev. Samuel Burchard, of New 
York city, of 'Rum, Romanism and Rebellion' fame, 
who, much to his regret and chagrin, defeated Blaine 
for the Presidency, and for which he repented after- 
ward in dust and ashes. 

"There were no grist-mills nearer than Whitesboro 
for some years, and the early settlers had a line of 
marked trees to that place through the woods, pre- 
sumably by way of Holland Patent. Many a grist 
of wheat and corn has been carried on the back to 
Whitesboro. The first grist-mill between Utica and 
the St. Lawrence was built upon Cincinnati creek, at 
Parker Hollow. The site of the mill can be seen from 
Prospect station, on the R. W. & 0. railroad. 

"Owen Griffith and Griffith Rowland were the first 
Welsh settlers in Steuben. They, unlike most Welsh 
of the present day, had the English language to learn 
after they came here; and like all others that are 
learning a new language, were anxious to display 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 183 

their knowledge. One day, while working on the 
highway and having to roll a big stone, one of them 
cried out to the other, 'look out for your feets!' 'Feets,' 
said the other, 'why don't you say foots?' 

"Griffiths built a store (Store Felen) in the eastern 
part of Steuben, and which was for years a landmark 
in the town. Those who have filled their jugs there 
have been buried many a year, A few old grey heads 
that bought their first candy there, remain. David 
and Mary Roberts (brother and sister) kept this store 
for many years before it was torn down. Mary Rob- 
erts, when quite a young woman was not well, and 
thought a vegetable diet best for her. She accord- 
ingly confined herself absolutely to roasted or baked 
potatoes with salt and tea, for the rest of her life. She 
lived to be over eighty years of age, well but not 
strong, a marvel to the doctors. 

"Intoxicating liquors were then sold in all stores, 
as well as taverns, and kept in all families. They 
were strict protectionists in that they believed in 
home consumption. They had no market, except 
a home market for their corn and rye at the distiller's, 
and felt in duty bound to consume his whiskies. That, 
and tobacco and tea, had to be bought at the store. 
Clothing — woolen and linen — ^was manufactured in 
the family. The Welsh women were famous knitters. 
It was a common thing to meet them on the road in 
silk hat and muslin cap, knitting as they went. It 
is said — and it may be true — that some of them would 
go on foot to Utica, carrying a basket of eggs on their 
head, and knit a pair of stockings going and coming. 
These were the kind of emigrants; and Wales sent 
us many of them in those early days. They settled 
mostly in the east part of the town, the Yankees in 
the southern, while the Mohawk Dutch drifted up 
the Mohawk river to its uppermost branches, in the 
northwest part of Steuben. The Dutch did most of 
their business in Westernville and Rome, and the 
Welsh, in Remsen and Utica. Consequently they 
seldom got together, except at town meetings, when 
both sides brought out their best wrestlers — the Weav- 



i84 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

ers, Wetherstines and Platts on the part of the Dutch ; 
the Griffiths (two boys), Tom Phil and Bill Lewis, on 
the part of the Welsh. Sometimes one party would 
come out ahead, sometimes the other — all in good 
nature. 

"Like all frontier settlements, it was thought to 
be quite an honor to be the best man in a rough-and- 
tumble fight. Richard Jones (Cobin Dick) was re- 
puted to be best man at one time among the Welsh, 
and Mike Young among the Dutch. Mike had been 
to Remsen village and had taken in pretty freely, 
and had to pass Store Felen where Cobin Dick and 
a number of his cronies were having a carouse. Dick 
was very heavily loaded. Mike stood in his wagon 
and issued a challenge to any Welshman. Dick at 
once stripped and at it they went. Dick was too 
drunk to fight at first, and got awfully pounded; but 
he sobered up, and turned on Mike and was putting 
in his best licks when Young, seeing that it was all 
up with him, cried enough. Dick said: 'Don't beg 
yet, I have but just begun.' Of course that ended 
the fight. Dick's pluck and endurance won him the 
victory. They met afterwards at town meeting 
every year during their lives, and were the best of 
friends. I happened to meet Young after he had got 
to be an old man. I said to him: 'Did you ever know 
a man they called Cobin Dick?' 'Yes, I knowed him; 
I had a fight mit him once, and pounded him and 
pounded him, and the more I pounded him the stouter 
he grew; and by Gott, he ficked me.' 

"At one time Lewis P. Lewis was champion. He 
was a tall, long-armed man of the Abe Lincoln style 
of build. No waste timber about him. Lewis was 
a Federal, and a man by the name of Williams, of the 
opposite party, was an aspirant to Lewis' honors as 
champion in throwing the sledge. Williams could 
throw it a little farther than Lewis, and every time he 
threw he would walk up to Lewis, roll up his sleeve, 
shake his fist in his face and say: 'There is Democrat 
muscle for you.' Lewis stood it for a number of 
times, and then hauled off and knocked him out with 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 185 

the first blow. He was immediately arrested by a 
constable of the opposite party, and brought into the 
house. While making out the papers to take him to 
jail, they neglected to keep close watch of him. Cap- 
tain Fuller, who stood near him said: 'Lewis, do you 
see yonder woods?' He needed no further hint, so 
ran, with the constable after him; but the latter failed 
to catch him, and thus the matter ended. 

"Fifty or sixty years ago, three days' election was 
held in each town. Three inspectors held the polls 
open in one locality one day, and on another day in 
another place, and would take the ballot-boxes home 
with them every night, and at the end of the three 
days counted the votes and made out the returns. 
No one questioned their honesty — and they were 
honest. No ballot-box stuffing, no crooked work. If 
a man had ever been caught in any such work, he need 
never expect anything further from the people. 

"A laughable incident occurred at the polls at about 
that time. A Welshman who had been in the coun- 
try but a short time — and most likely it was his first 
time to cast a ballot — was challenged on the ground 
that he was not naturalized. Of course there was a great 
deal of wrangling over it. Finally he was told that 
if he voted he must swear it in. The man took a 
long breath and solemnly said: 'I ha'nt custom swear; 
but if I must, I will: Go in, G — d — n you!' and de- 
posited his ballot in the box— and it had to be counted. 
After the town was divided into election districts, 
the northern district — French Road — made Steuben 
the banner Republican town in the state; there being 
but two or three Democratic votes cast in the district. 

"A thing that speaks well for the morals of the town 
is, that for the last thirty or forty years no intoxicat-. 
ing liquors have been sold in the town. 

"Dr. Bill, who later lived in Remsen, was the first 
physician to practice in Steuben. In those days the 
first thing to do was, bleed the patient; and it was a 
theory among doctors, if a patient craved for any- 
thing he sure must not have it. A neighbor of Cap- 
tain Fuller's was very sick with a fever, and Dr. Bill 



1 86 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

attended him. Fuller was to care for the patient 
during the night. The doctor said the man had got 
to die, and most likely would not live until morning. 
He must not, he said, be allowed any cold water, but 
warm water might be given him, a teaspoonful at a 
time. During the night the patient wanted cold 
water so badly, and as he had got to die anyway, the 
Captain drew some cold water out of the well and 
gave him. The man fell asleep for a time, awoke and 
wanted more water. He gave him more, and so on 
through the night. When the doctor came the next 
morning, he pronounced the patient much better, 
and said he would get well; and he did. The Cap- 
tain used to say long before cold water was allowed by 
the profession, that it was the cold water that cured 
him. 

"Dr. Roberts of 'Welsh Medicamentum' fame, was 
an early physician in the town. He had such wonder- 
ful success that the superstitiously inclined believed 
that the evil one was in league with him, and he rather 
encouraged the belief. All the neighbors' houses around 
there were filled with boarders for treatment. Some 
days the fences on the roadside were lined with teams 
for long distances, and his house filled with patients, 
and he dealing out Medicamentum from a little bar 
in one corner of the room. After he died — and he 
did not live long — his widow sold the receipt and the 
right to manufacture, to Dr. Marchisi, of Utica. 

"Dr. Gillet came into the town when a young man 
and married a daughter of Judge Hamilton. He 
practiced his profession during a long life, and was 
very successful in his practice. It was his boast that 
he never knew the northeast wind to blow so hard, or 
the weather so cold, but what he could set his face 
against it and go, if called. 

"The traces of an old road following nearly a north 
and south direction, was noticed by the early set- 
tlers in Steuben. Articles of camp equipage, kettles, 
a sword, musket, etc., were found. It was thought 
a P^rench expedition passed through here during the 
French and Indian war. Subsequently a highway 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 187 

was laid out through the town near the course of this 
old road and it always has been designated the French 
Road." 

PROFESSIONAL MEN 

The first in these parts who may be termed pro- 
fessional men were the land surveyors; and of these 
there took up permanent residence here Gershom 
Hinckley, Broughton White, Joseph H. Montague 
and Griffith Jones, The clerical profession followed 
next in point of chronology, and their name is legion; 
many of whom we have individually mentioned in 
connection with the history of the various church 
societies, which also holds true concerning school- 
teachers, mentioned in the history of the schools. 
The first of the legal profession to locate in Remsen 
was George A. Yeomans, born January 28, 1806, 
who died here June 26, 1854. Succeeding him came 
Samuel Douglas, Charles Snyder, Americus Mel- 
ville, Lewis Edwards, George Prichard (afterward 
Judge of Oneida county), and Robert Jones. This 
is an array of legal talent singularly small to cover a 
period of almost a century ; but this fact does not nec- 
essarily betoken a people particularly prone to peace, 
or devoid of the fighting-instinct when their legal 
rights are violated or infringed upon; for in import- 
ant cases originating here, the most brilliant legal 
talent of Utica and Rome has been brought into the 
fray. We recall one case in which both plaintiff 
and defendant were represented by men who were 
at the time colleagues in the United States Senate. 

Local suits at law were ever a source of diversion 
to the residents of the community, where at best 
there was scant diversity of entertainment. On oc- 
casions when the contestants were well known and 
the case gave promise of more than ordinary interest, 



1 88 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

farmers from the surrounding country were likely 
to have "business" in town on that day, when, together 
with the male residents of the village, they would 
casually find their way to the tavern, where these 
cases usually were tried. An instance is recalled 
where two reputable farmers got into legal difficul- 
ties over the sale and purchase of a cow. Among 
the witnesses called was a young fellow who seemed 
possessed of the idea that the natural, moral, and 
legal obligations of a witness should be characterized 
by strictest loyalty to the man who had subpoenaed 
him, regardless of circumstances or facts. Conse- 
quently, when called to the witness-stand he volubly 
recited all he knew, insistently volunteering much 
that was neither requested nor desired of him; and 
his statements were so strong, and so palpably at 
variance with the testimony of other unimpeachable 
witnesses who had preceded him, that he soon was 
summarily dismissed. Upon leaving the stand, he 
immediately was surrounded by friends who began to 
remonstrate with him for being so emphatic on cer- 
tain points, that he and every one else present knew 
to be false; and especially for his efforts to traduce 
the character of the defendant, whose reputation in 
the community was of the best. "Why, you would 
have made him out a scoundrel," they said, "a liar, 
a thief, a perfect devil!" Then, in a voice perfectly 
audible throughout the room, he indignantly retorted: 
"Well, I was Lew Powell's witness, wasn't I?" 

More may be said concerning the medical profes- 
sion, though this region has ever been regarded as a 
healthful one. Even in earliest times, unlike most 
newly settled communities, malaria, or "fever 'n' 
ager," as the settler called it, was rare. The towering 
hills "standing round about," seemed like officers 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 189 

of a board of health to ward off the causes of this 
tenacious and enervating ailment of pioneer families. 
Sickness in general was met and baffled by home 
treatment and home nursing. In the family at that 
period, medicines, like the food, made up in quality 
and quantity what was lacking in variety. Bottles 
of camphor, castor oil, picra, and kindred compounds 
occupied a prominent place on the cupboard-shelf, 
while various useful herbs were kept on hand in the 
household; and to the influence of these, ordinary 
ills readily succumbed. The nostrums known to have 
been resorted to by many well-meaning people in 
cases of jaundice, persistent coughs and measles, 
however, were too nauseating to contemplate and too 
vile to name. Aside from juvenile diseases, epidemics 
were seldom known. Still, notwithstanding this gen- 
eral healthfulness, doctors were comparatively early 
comers; but, like the early ministers, they must needs 
have also some other vocation to aid them in eking 
out a livelihood, and this most often was farming. 

The early qualifications enabling a man to become 
a medical "practitioner" were not numerous, nor the 
requirements very exacting. It was essential of 
course that he have some knowledge of bone-setting 
and blood-letting, and be competent to determine 
to what extent he might administer his all-potent 
doses of calomel without killing the patient outright. 
Many who had survived this treatment, and whom 
the doctors prided themselves on as examples of re- 
markable cures, carried throughout their lives the 
pernicious effects of the drastic doses administered; 
and it has even been claimed that some of their de- 
scendants suffer from the "cure" to this day, in which 
event it may be truly said that the old system of 
medical practice "being dead, yet speaketh." 



I90 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Outside the large cities, there were not many regu- 
larly graduated physicians anywhere in the country, 
for few of this class ever penetrated to the frontier 
settlements to locate. Some of the early medical 
practitioners here had never been inside the walls of 
a medical school, though they may have danced at- 
tendance upon older practicing physicians for a 
short or longer period, and thus gained an insight 
into general practice; but, whether self-taught or 
school-taught, they all resorted to the same heroic 
measures in the treatment of diseases. Neverthe- 
less, while the early doctor may not have possessed 
extensive scientific knowledge, he did display more 
or less skill, and great nobility of character. At 
least he often obtained good results, and was self- 
sacrificing to an eminent degree in the practice of his 
profession, frequently suffering great hardship in 
answering distant calls in severest weather, the jour- 
ney having to be made either on horseback or on foot. 
With saddle-bag swung across the neck of his horse 
when he rode, or hung upon his arm if he walked, he 
made his weary way over miles of rugged hill-roads 
that were scarcely more than bridle-paths, in his 
efforts to relieve suffering and allay the fears of anx- 
ious hearts. His presence was always cheering and 
most welcome. 

Philip Scott is said to have been the first physician 
to locate in Remsen township, having settled north 
of Fairchild Corners a few years prior to 1800. 

Dr. Luther Guiteau, though a resident of Trenton 
village, had an extensive practice throughout the 
townships of Remsen and Steuben; and long after 
practioners had located here. Dr. Guiteau retained a 
large practice among the early families, and frequently 
was called in for consultation by the resident doctors. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 191 

He was born in Lanesborough, Mass., and came to 
Trenton in 1802. He practiced there until 1850, and 
the forty-eight years of his professional life was but 
once interrupted, when he was elected to the state 
legislature, in 1819. After his death his son, Luther, 
Jr., who had practiced with the father succeeded him. 
Dr. Guiteau, Jr., married Sarah, daughter of Col. 
Mather Beecher, of Remsen. Judge Jones in his 
"Annals of Oneida County" expresses himself con- 
cerning the elder Dr. Guiteau as follows: "Not a little 
remarkable in the history of his family was their con- 
nection with the medical profession. For many gen- 
erations it is well ascertained that they had in succession 
furnished one, at least, who did credit to himself and 
honor to the science of medicine." 

Dr. Earl Bill was one of the earliest physicians to 
locate in this section, having taken up his residence 
on Starr's Hill, in Steuben, very early, and removing 
thence to Remsen village in 1814. He was a grad- 
uate of the Berkshire Medical School, of Massachu- 
setts, and his professional life in the two townships 
covered a period of more than half a century. 

Dr. Alfred Gillet came to Steuben when a young 
man, locating at the Comers. He married a daughter 
of Judge Thomas H. Hamilton, and was in practice 
there for many years. 

Dr. Daniel Roberts, by far the most widely-known 
practitioner ever in this section, came to Steuben in 1818. 
Concerning him we shall have more to relate further on. 

Dr. Robert Perry, born in the parish of Llanengan, 
North Wales, was a nephew of Dr. Daniel Roberts. 
After having taken a course in medicine and surgery 
in London, he came to this country and practiced his 
profession in Steuben. He died June 10, 1826, aged 
thirty-one years, and is buried at Capel Isaf . 



192 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Within a few years after the death of Dr. Roberts, 
a Doctor Smith located in Steuben, occupying the 
Hughey Jones place, about a hundred rods or so west 
of Capel Ucha', He removed to Canada, previous 
to 1830. 

There came to Remsen a Dr. Stevens in 1830 or 
1831, to practice in partnership with Dr. Bill. He is 
said to have been a skillful physician, and became 
popular; but was fatally injured in an accident, near 
the Price place. It seems he was returning early in 
the morning from a visit to a patient north of the 
village, when the accident befell him. He was found 
lying unconscious by the roadside, wrapped in his 
buffalo-robe, and his sleigh overturned. There was 
a bad wound on the back of his head, but, as he never 
regained consciousness, it was impossible to learn 
how it all had occurred, though there were rumors 
of foul play. 

Dr. Stevens was succeeded by Dr. Kellogg, who 
continued in partnership relations with Dr. Bill until 
the latter's removal from Remsen. Dr. Kellogg mar- 
ried a daughter of Silas Fowler. 

Shortly after Dr. Bill's removal, a Dr. Clark came 
to Remsen, from Russia, N. Y. He married here 
Maria Smith, a niece of the late Bohan Smith, and 
was in practice several years, when he removed to 
Log City, now Eaton, Madison county. Succeeding 
him came also another young doctor from Russia, 
whose name we have been unable to learn. He re- 
mained only a short time. 

Dr. Olmstead was the next physician, who continued 
here for a few years, when he removed to some town 
north of Remsen. He was here as late as 1841. 

About this time a Dr. Williams who had located 
here was taken ill of a fever and died. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 193 

Dr. James Price, a graduate of Dublin University, 
was bom in Anglesey, North Wales, He married 
in Wales Ellen Rogers, born at Beaumaris, and shortly 
after sailed for America alone, with the view of set- 
tling in Canada. He was shipwrecked, however, 
and with others picked up at sea and brought to New 
York. Aside from the clothes he had on he saved 
nothing from the wreck but a silver spoon that had 
belonged to his mother. Soon after, he came to Steu- 
ben, where so many of his countrymen had settled, 
and for some time resided at the home of Robert 
Thomas, whose whole-souled hospitality to Welsh 
immigrants to this region was proverbial. Later, 
Dr. Price was joined by his wife, and they took up 
their residence in Remsen, where she died July 23, 1840, 
leaving three young children — two sons and a daughter. 
The doctor continued in practice here until 1867, when 
he received appointment to a position in the New 
York Custom House. He returned here, however, a 
few months before his death, which occurred in the 
fall of 1875. He is well remembered here, his erect 
figure and strong features truthfully indicating a 
decisiveness of character and determination of pur- 
pose that would baffle and overcome all obstacles, 
whether in ordinary pursuits or in the line of his pro- 
fessional duty. His demeanor was dignified, almost 
to the degree of sternness. 

Dr. Andrews practiced here for a short time, about 
1840, occupying the house next south of the Owen 
Griffiths store. 

Dr. Vincent, of Prospect, visited many families here, 
especially in the eastern part of the township. 

Dr. Griswold practiced here a short time in the 
decade of 1850-1860, when he removed to some town 
south of Utica. 



194 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Dr. David Terry was in practice here for a short 
time previous to 1860; he left, and practiced later 
in Syracuse, where he died. 

Dr. Thomas Morris, a druggist and medical prac- 
titioner, came here about 1855. He married Jane, 
daughter of William Wheldon, of Steuben, and about 
1866 removed to Emporia, Kas., where he died. 

Dr. Evan G. Williams, a native of Remsen town- 
ship and a graduate of the Buffalo Medical College, 
began practice here in 1864. About twenty years 
after, he gave up general practice and was ordained 
to the ministry of the Calvinistic Methodist denomi- 
nation, where he has labored very acceptably. He 
also established a drug business in Remsen. 

Dr. Richard G. Wiggins came here from Black 
Creek, about 1865. His son, John H., practiced in 
partnership with him for a time, as did also Dr. Wil- 
liam Jones, who finally removed to New York Mills. 

Dr. E. N. Sparks was in practice here for a few years; 
also Dr. James McCullough, who removed to Water- 
town, where he died. 

Dr. David H. Reed, a native of Remsen township, 
son of Ebenezer Reed, came here after graduation 
in the '80s, built up a large practice, and became a 
popular physician. His death, a few years later, was 
a great loss to the community. 

Dr. George H. Morey is now in practice here, hav- 
ing located in the village in 1884. 

The first dentist in Remsen was Dr. George Pom- 
eroy Bridgeman. He came here in the early '30s 
and engaged in cabinet-making for some years, when, 
owing to injuries received in a fall, he was obliged to 
abandon that trade and take up lighter work. The 
profession of dentistry appealed to him, and his su- 
perior skill soon brought him success in this profession, 



HISTORY OF REMSEN i9S 

which was then in its infancy. The work of the early 
dentist consisted mainly of extracting teeth, and 
making and fitting artificial ones. The art of pro- 
longing the life and usefulness of teeth by filling, 
crowning, or bridge-work, came later in the growth of 
dentistry; but Dr. Bridgeman kept pace with the 
advancement of his profession, and was quite abreast 
of it in his day. 

Among other resident dentists were Dr. Frederick 
Rich, who came here from Black Creek, about 1860, 
and who remained only a few years; and Dr. Roy 
Jones, a representative of a prominent early Remsen 
family. In former times there were many visiting 
dentists, who came by appointment, or regularly on 
specified days. 

Unquestionably the person of most local prominence 
of his time in Steuben township was Dr. Daniel Rob- 
erts. Many and marvelous are the stories told of 
this man, some of them rivalling "The Arabian Nights 
Tales" or those of Salem witchcraft days. If he 
in his day was averse to the opinion entertained by 
many of his superstitious fellow countrymen regard- 
ing his possession of supernatural powers, he at least 
took no steps to controvert that belief. In reality, 
he may not have been aware of the full measure of 
mysterious happenings that were attributed to him 
as wrought through his influence with those invisi- 
ble agents alleged to be under his control; but cer- 
tainly on one occasion, as we shall show, he directly 
asserted that he possessed such powers; and there 
were those with whom he was in close relation who 
were wont to recount many wonderful things that 
he was thought to have brought to pass. 

Dr. Roberts was born in the parish of Llaniestyn, 
Carnarvonshire, Wales, in 1775, and in his early years 



196 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

was a student at the famous Lampeter School, one of 
the most noted preparatory schools m the Princi- 
pality. He came to this country in 1818, landing at 
New York, and thence directly to Steuben, where 
he located about a quarter of a mile north of Ty Coch 
Corners, on the west side of the highway. His repu- 
tation for communion and fellowship with the "Pow- 
ers of Darkness" had preceded his arrival in America; 
for it was related of him that a poor widow, belonging 
to his parish in Wales, chanced to lose a sheep, and, 
having great faith in his divining powers, appealed 
to him concerning her loss. He quietly told her to 
be comforted, that she would get her ewe back on 
the following Sunday if she would be at the parish 
church. Accordingly, when the people of the little 
Welsh hamlet had assembled for worship on that 
Sunday morning, they were amazed to see the one 
who later was proved accountable for her misfor- 
tune enter the assemblage with the sheep across his 
shoulder; and he was none other than a leader in the 
church. 

Among the passengers in the vessel with Dr. Rob- 
erts on his voyage to this country was John Hughes 
with his family, father of the late Deacon Hugh Hughes, 
of Remsen. From New York they, with several 
other families, came by boat to Albany, and thence 
with their goods were transported by wagons. They 
would put up at an inn as night overtook them, the 
wagons containing their effects being left in the inn- 
yard, or under an open shed, with two men of the 
party delegated to guard them. One night, it so 
happened that John Hughes and Dr. Roberts were 
selected to keep this watch, and, after smoking and visit- 
ing until all about the inn and stables was quiet. Dr. 
Roberts proposed to Mr. Hughes that they make 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 197 

themselves comfortable and get some sleep. To this 
the latter demurred, saying that they had been chosen 
to watch the wagons, and if they slept, some one might 
carry away their goods; and the doctor replied: "If 
they do, I shall go to my books, and they will be glad 
to restore them to us." The inference was that he 
possessed books of magic, and that by reading cer- 
tain passages from them he could invoke, as did the 
Witch of Endor, spirits from the depths which would 
be forced to do his bidding. 

Here are a few of the many stories current in years 
past among the superstitiously inclined, and which 
are sometimes retold even in these days. 

The one that made the deepest impression on our 
juvenile mind, and rendered us truly thankful that 
no man in these parts possessed such wonderful powers 
in our day, ran something like this: A number of truant 
boys, tempted by the fruit with which the Doctor's 
apple-trees were loaded, stealthily crept into his or- 
chard and helped themselves. While returning to 
the road with their plunder, and just in the act of 
climbing the fence, they glanced toward the house 
to see if they had been detected, and beheld the doctor 
looking at them from a window. Immediately all 
were transfixed, and remained in that condition, 
each with a leg on either side of the fence, until the 
doctor came to them with a reprimand followed by 
words of good advice, after which he released them 
from the spell and bade them go. 

The doctor's brother, Robert Y Gof (Robert the 
Blacksmith) came to this country with him. He 
was a man of powerful physique and a skillful veteri- 
narian. Once he related the following circumstance 
to a man well known to the writer, from whom we 
received the tale: The doctor requested his brother 



198 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

to accompany him to the bam one midnight, where 
by the Ught of a tallow candle, he drew a circle with 
chalk upon the bam floor, and both men stood within 
the circle thus drawn. The doctor then read some 
jargon from a book which he had brought with him, 
and immediately there came a sound as of falling 
hailstones upon the roof, and dark, shadowy objects 
appeared in the gloom all about them, though none 
ventured within the charmed circle where the two men 
stood. What mission the doctor dispatched these 
imps upon after summoning them to his presence, 
the brother failed to explain. Possibly he sent them 
to bail out his well with sieves, as was the case with 
one whom we have heard of, who, being a novice in 
the business, had acquired the art of calling spirits 
into his presence, but not the power to dismiss them. 

Another story related of him is that, having occa- 
sion to visit a town in one of the counties north of us, 
he stopped for a night at a tavern where the accom- 
modation afforded was decidedly bad, and the price 
demanded in settlement excessively good. He paid 
without protest, and retuming to the dining-room 
then deserted, wrote with a piece of chalk a sentence 
upon the chimney above the mantle; and started on 
his journey, which was being made on foot. Presently, 
one of the maids entered the room, and seeing the 
chalked characters upon the chimney attempted to 
read them, when she immediately began involuntarily 
to dance. Her mistress soon appeared, and reading 
the sentence, likewise began to dance. At this stage 
the landlord, hearing the unusual racket and the 
wild ejaculations of the dancing pair, stepped into 
the room, and casting his eyes upon the mysterious 
marks, his heels also instantly began to clatter upon 
the bare sanded floor, in unison with those of his wife 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 199 

and servant. Being of a plethoric temperament, his 
breath soon showed signs of failing; so, while a little 
of it yet remained, he made use of it to call his stable- 
man, whom he besought as he valued his legs not to 
read the sentence upon the wall, but to go with all 
possible speed after the man who had lodged with 
them and beg of him to return. The stable-man, 
mounting a horse, started in pursuit of the doctor, 
whom he soon overtook, and to whom he related how 
the devil had taken possession of his master's house- 
hold, stating that he had been sent to beg him to come 
back and release them from the power of his Satanic 
Majesty. The doctor quietly told him to return and 
simply erase the characters chalked upon the wall 
and all would be well ; but to tell his master never again 
to charge so exorbitant a price for such poor accom- 
modation as he had furnished him. 

Previously to 1820, in a log house on the hillside 
a little more than half way between Remsen village 
and Capel Ucha' and some sixty or hundred rods north 
of the road, there lived one Robert Jones (Y Bala). 
The family of Mr. Jones once placed on the grass 
near the house some fleeces of wool to bleach. When 
they arose on a morning, they discovered that two of 
the largest fleeces were missing; and soon some one 
passing along the highway observed them spread 
over the tops of two large elm trees standing on either 
side of the road, in a direction about opposite Mr. 
Jones' house. The fleeces were beyond regaining, so 
remained there until time and the elements removed 
them. By what agency they were carried to their 
lofty perches, and with such nicety spread upon sep- 
arate trees, was beyond the ability of anyone to ex- 
plain; though Dr. Roberts was given the credit for 
bringing about the strange occurrence. 



200 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

There was one known to the community as "Black 
SherifT," who hved in a small house opposite "Store 
Felen," on the north of the road leading to Sixty 
Acres. He was a lover of spirits of another sort than 
those Dr. Roberts was reputed to be familiar with, 
and his house became infested by swarms of rats, said 
to have been directed to him by the doctor. Had the 
man seen snakes instead, as men of his habits some- 
times do, no doubt the illusion would also have been 
attributed to the same agency. 

The doctor's wife once related the following circum- 
stance to a lady whom we knew: On a certain day he 
suggested to her that she prepare an early dinner, 
saying that a stated number of strangers — whom he 
described minutely, together with their horses and 
style of vehicle — were on their way from a distance 
to see him. These people, she said, whose coming 
he could not possibly have had intimation of by any 
ordinary announcement or communication, airived 
an hour or two later, as he had predicted, their appear- 
ance according perfectly with his description. 

It is told that a woman of a distant city, in indigent 
circumstances and afflicted with an ailment that 
baffled the skill of physicians in her locality, was 
advised to see Dr. Roberts. By reason of her poverty, 
she was unable to make so extended a journey; but 
her friends and neighbors kindly made up a purse 
sufficient to defray the cost of the trip and to pay the 
doctor's fee. All this was unknown to anyone here, 
but eventually the woman airived in her husband's 
care, having made the journey by wagon. After a 
course of treatment she began to improve, and finally 
was considered cured. Then the couple secretly 
departed for then* distant home, neglecting to com- 
pensate the doctor, or even to thank him for the serv- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 201 

ice he had rendered them. However, not many weeks 
had elapsed before they again appeared at the doc- 
tor's, the woman afflicted as before, and soliciting his 
aid; but he quietly observed that if it were a perma- 
nent cure they expected him to perform, they better 
pay him at least a portion of the money their friends 
had donated for the purpose. The delinquency was 
remedied, it is said, and a permanent cure effected. 

On one occasion an acquaintance called on him, 
reported the loss of a set of double harness that had 
been stolen from his barn, and asked him to aid in 
its recovery. After giving attention to the man's 
story. Dr. Roberts told him to return on a certain 
day and hour. Knowing fairly well who were the 
dissolute characters within a radius of several miles, 
the doctor notified each of these to be at his house 
at the hour of the appointment he had made for the 
man who had lost the harness. Upon their arrival 
they were all ushered into one room, when the doctor 
invited them to be seated, and explained his purpose 

in calling them there. "Mr. here" he said, 

"has lost a set of double harness, and one of you has 
stolen it. Now, when I count three, I want every 
one of you to stand up; and if the one who stole the 
harness stands up, he will immediately fall dead." 
When he counted, "one, two, three," they all stood up 
but one. 

Another instance of the doctor's shrewdness in 
detecting the wrong-doer, and compelling the thief 
to restore to the rightful owner what he had purloined : 
On an occasion when several men were in a room to- 
gether waiting to interview the doctor, one of their 
number approached him with the statement that his 
watch had been stolen since he came into the house. 
The doctor told him he hardly thought it possible 



202 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

that any of those present could be guilty of such an 
act, for he knew them all; but the man persisted in 
his claim, insisting that he had taken the watch out 
of his pocket after coming into the house to ascertain 
the hour. As it was late afternoon in the season of 
short days, the doctor, by failing to wait upon them 
and otherwise filling in the time, detained them there 
until dusk, when he ordered candles brought in. 

Presently he called his son, William D,, then a 
small lad, and instructed him to bring into the room 
a three-gallon iron pot that stood outside near the 
door, which Mrs. Roberts had used that day in steep- 
ing over a wood-fire in the fire-place some herbs for 
the doctor's use in compounding his remedies. The 
pot was brought in and placed bottom upwards under 
the table. Then he quietly instructed the son to 
bring in a rooster from the barn, which he placed un- 
der the pot, all present marvelling greatly at the 
procedure. He then told them that a gentleman 
present had lost a watch since coming into the room, 
adding that he disliked to believe that any of their 
number could be guilty of so culpable an act as to 
steal it; but to satisfy the man who had lost the watch, 
as well as for his own satisfaction, he wished to deter- 
mine whether it had been stolen in his house. He 
then put out the light of the candles, and requested 
them all to approach the table one by one, each to 
lay his right hand upon the upturned bottom of the 
pot, pressing the palm firmly against it; stating that 
if either of them were guilty of having stolen the watch, 
the rooster would immediately crow when that man 
put his hand upon the pot. So in the dusky room 
they drew near the table, and, reaching under it pressed 
each a hand upon the kettle; but the rooster failed to 
crow. The doctor then relighted the candles, and pass- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 203 

ing to each of the men in turn asked that he be permitted 
to examine his hand, which he found covered with 
pot-black; but, finally he came to one upon whose 
hand there was no smut. To this one, looking him 
keenly in the eye, he held out his own hand saying, 
"give me the watch." The man immediately took 
it from his pocket and handed it to the doctor. The 
culprit had feigned to do as the others had done, but 
being fearful that the rooster might crow if he laid 
his hand upon the pot, had very carefully avoided 
touching it, to his undoing. 

These Doctor Roberts stories are purely traditional, 
and the present generation naturally disclaims agree- 
ment with or belief in their supernatural side. They 
are simply the tales of the time. The doctor was 
possessed of strong personal magnetism, however, 
and may have had developed in him to an unusual 
degree what in modem times is called the power of 
clairvoyance or hypnotism. He was a man well- 
read for his day, with a strong delectation for the 
occult, as is proved by some of his books and manu- 
scripts that have been shown the writer. It was 
about this time that there had begun to be developed 
on the Continent of Europe — and the fame of it spread 
throughout the British Isles and America — knowledge 
of a latent power or inherent force thitherto generally 
unknown or imperfectly understood. Frederick Franz 
Mesmer had startled the civilized world by his dis- 
coveries and experiments. These phenomena, though 
not yet within man's comprehension or rational judg- 
ment. Doctor Roberts may have been aware of; and 
possibly he used the power of hypnotic suggestion, 
which in our day science recognizes and is putting to 
practical use; though he had not found the beneficial 
medical uses to which it could be applied, and hence 



204 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

had not the ability to advance it in the interest of 
humanity as he would have liked. 

That he was able to do some things which to his 
superstitiously inclined neighbors were unaccounta- 
ble, is certain; hence, perhaps, their willingness to 
ascribe to his power or influence all local happenings 
for which they could not readily assign a natural 
cause, thus imputing to him the power of sorcery. 
At any event, all that transpired here in his day bor- 
dering on the mysterious, or of a nature beyond the 
comprehension of the simple country folk, was attrib- 
uted to the supernatural powers believed to be vested 
in him. Nor does this seem in any way remarkable, 
when we reflect that belief in the fanciful, mystical 
powers such as those attributed to him was almost 
universal. Through centuries, even up to a compara- 
tively few years of his time, the countless vagaries 
and disguises of mysticism had inspired a belief in 
witchcraft, which for fifteen hundred years was preva- 
lent in Europe. Luther, Calvin, Wesley, and the 
Puritan divines believed in it. Blackstone thought 
it undeniable. It was held to be proved by the 
Bible, in that it says, "Thou shalt not suffer a witch 
to live." Its truth was attested by any number of 
confessions, and the most varied and seemingly ample 
evidence. 

The doctor is said to have been a whole-souled, 
generous-hearted, charitable man, who did much in 
the way of medical service for which he received very 
little return. As a physician he was marvelously 
successful, his reputation extending to distant local- 
ities, especially to those districts peopled by his own 
countrymen; and patients came to him even from Ver- 
mont, and from many parts of Pennsylvania, for 
consultation and treatment. It is related that the 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 205 

highway on either side, from his house to Ty Coch 
Corners, a quarter of a mile distant, was frequently 
lined with vehicles, so numerous were the calls on his 
skill made by people from distant places. Personally, 
he is described as a man of large frame who dressed 
in knee-breeches and buckle-shoes, and was character- 
ized by quaint sayings and a droll wit. On one oc- 
casion a Dr. of Trenton called on him, and, 

after the usual exchange of common civilities, observed : 
"They tell me. Dr. Roberts, that you almost raise 
the dead." To which he gravely replied, "Well, 

they tell me that you do, quite." Dr. had 

been suspected at Trenton of robbing graves. An- 
other brother practitioner once called, announcing 
that he had come to borrow the best book he had — a 
work ostensibly in the realm of medical science. Dr. 
Roberts retired to an adjoning room, presently re- 
turning with a copy of the Bible, which he placed in 
the hands of his caller. 

Dr. Roberts died September 13, 1820, aged forty- 
five years, only a little over two years after his arrival 
here from Wales. His death was a serious loss that 
was keenly felt, not only in the infant settlements 
within a radius of many miles, but in distant commu- 
nities. For months after his death the afflicted from 
a distance would arrive here, only to learn of his de- 
cease. His widow continued the doctor's local prac- 
tice quite successfully for many years; and their son, 
William D. Roberts, showed much medical skill, 
though he never became a practicing physician. 

THE SINGING MASTER 

Closely following on the trail blazed by the itinerant 
preacher came the singing teacher, whose work was 
an important and necessary adjunct to the labors of 



2o6 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

the former. Like the minister he traveled from place 
to place, teaching in classes the elements of vocalism; 
and as congregational singing was the vogue in all 
religious meetings, his work indeed was needful. There 
were but few hymn-books in the possession of the 
people, and in any gathering for worship perhaps 
there might be found only one, and that in the hands 
of the minister; or possibly there would be none, in 
which event the minister would recite several stanzas 
of a hymn from memory, after which, whether recit- 
ing from memory or reading from the book, he would 
repeat the first two lines, announcing the meter — 
long, short, common or proper — to which the hymn 
should be sung. After these two lines had been sung, 
the singing would rest while the minister gave out 
two more lines, and so on in this manner to the end 
of the hymn. This was called "lining the hymn." 
To start the singing, the leader must needs get the 
"key" or "pitch" by the aid of his "tuning fork," 
after having determined in his mind the tune he would 
select, when, with a few earnestly whispered necessary 
directions to his chief supporters, supplemented by 
supposedly intelligible nods and facial expressions to 
others of the assembly who had loud if possibly not 
musical voices — such nods and expressions meaning 
to convey that they were expected to fill the breach 
if others should falter or break — he was ready to 
begin. 

To "lead the singing" in a gathering of this kind 
was counted an important position, second only to 
that filled by the minister himself, and the leader not 
only felt, but usually showed that he fully realized 
the importance and onerousness of his duties. And 
he was always a brave and resourceful man; for if it 
were found after singing a few measures, that he had 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 207 

selected for the hymn announced a tune that failed 
to fit its meter, nothing daunted he would immediately 
stop for a fresh start in another tune of correct meas- 
ure. Or as would sometimes happen, if the dis- 
crepancy between the meter of the hymn and the 
tune selected were not too great, so that by slurring 
a syllable or two in each line or in every alternate 
line he could partially conceal the defect, he would 
proceed boldly, covering so adroitly that few of the 
singers even realized that the tune had been stretched 
to the verge of "ripping", in order to make it fit the 
hymn. 

Among the singing teachers who came here to give 
instructions were Rev. Aaron Adams, Austin Ward, 
and a Mr. Peters, the last of whom taught a large 
class at Capel Ucha' between 1825 and 1830. The 
late Rev. Erasmus Jones taught here in the early 
'40s. In the winter of 1859-1860, a Mr. P. N. Glid- 
den, of Elbridge, Onondaga county, used to drive 
from his home to Utica, and thence north as far as 
Boonville, making semi-monthly trips, teaching classes 
in several of the larger villages along the route, Rem- 
sen included. The late John D. Prichard, of Rem- 
sen, well versed in the vocal art, at various times 
taught singing here. 

Musical instruments were a rarity in the early 
days, represented simply by fife and drum, used chiefly 
to fan the flame of patriotism in the settler's breast 
on Fourth of July and training days; and the violin 
of the local fiddler. Under the artistic sway of this 
musician's practiced arm, its strains were occasionally 
devoted to lightening the hearts and expending the 
surplus energy of the young and "frivolous," in a 
few evening hours spent in the measured steps of the 
dance. But such diversions necessarily offended the 



2o8 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

moral sense of the older and more sedate, who placed 
dancing in the category of "deadly sins." Even the 
use of church organs was strenuously opposed by 
some of the older officers of the churches. We have 
in mind one venerable deacon who steadfastly op- 
posed such innovation, though after years of per- 
suasive argument he finally consented to the purchase 
of one by the Sunday school, but obstinately refused 
to permit its use at any other service. Nevertheless, 
at his death a public funeral was planned as a becoming 
token to one of his long residence and wide acquaint- 
ance in the community, for which an extended musi- 
cal program was arranged — but, alas for respect in 
the younger generation for the cherished sentiments 
of the older — the despised organ was brought into 
service at the deacon's funeral, where, placed in a 
position of honor in the gallery, with pompous swell 
of bellows and triumphant tone it led and sustained 
the singing throughout, and had it been human, of 
course, would naturally have gloried in the victory 
it had won over its arch-enemy. 

Among the Welsh who settled in and about here 
there were many, especially the men, who possessed 
voices of rare quality and richness, some of whom 
had had advantages of voice culture in their own 
country ; for singing is second nature to the Welshman, 
and he is a chorister by all his traditions and train- 
ing. In later years nearly all the Welsh churches 
have been noted for good congregational singing. Of 
the Congregational Church, Robert R. Roberts and 
family, and the family of the Rev. Morris Roberts 
were noted for skill and excellent voices. The David 
Prichard family and others of the Baptist church 
were gifted in this respect, as were Mrs. W. N. Davis 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 209 

and Robert Jones, of Bethel, and many others, all of 
whom gave freely of their services. 

THE MILITIA 

Militia affairs were important functions in early 
days. The act of Congress organizing this body 
was passed May 8, 1792, and continued in effect for 
more than a century. However much it may have 
been violated both in letter and spirit during later 
years, it nevertheless was lived up to in early times 
with conscientious endeavor. By its terms, every 
captain was to enroll within the bounds of his com- 
pany every able-bodied male citizen of his district 
between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, 
who, upon due notice of such enrollment, was to pro- 
vide himself "with a good musket or firelock of a bore 
sufficient for balls of the eighteenth part of a pound ; 
a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, a knap- 
sack, a pouch with a box therein to contain not less 
than twenty-four cartridges suited to the bore of his 
musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper 
amount of powder and ball: or, with a good rifle, 
knapsack, shot-pouch and powder-horn, twenty balls 
suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a pound 
of powder." Each commissioned officer was to arm 
himself with "a small sword or hanger and 'spontoon'. " 
Each guardsman was required to furnish at his own 
expense these weapons and accoutrements. 

While Congress retained the power of calling the 
militia into the service of the United States, it ex- 
pressly delegated to each state the authority for ap- 
pointing its own officers, and for training the militia 
according to the discipline Congress prescribed. The 
officers generally took great pride in the soldierly 
appearance of their men, and instead of indulging in 



210 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

all sorts of military antics, were disposed to teach them 
to keep their toes pointed at a proper angle and to 
hold their arms with the gravity of Macedonians. 
The militia body was respected, and men of reflec- 
tion beheld in it a great bulwark of defence against 
possible enemies of the republic. The plume, the 
epaulet, the sash, were badges of honor. To be an 
officer in the militia was a position to be sought by 
any self-respecting man. The captain became a 
man of more consequence than he would have been 
without the right to command forty of his neighbors 
to ground arms, and to keep their eyes right. 

On training days in Remsen, the local companies 
rendezvoused at the "Upper Tavern," where they 
formed in line and marched up and down the main 
street, then wheeled east across the upper bridge to 
the lot now occupied by the depot. Then began the 
drill in old style army tactics, which, simple as they 
were, needed a powerful sight of hard words and pa- 
tience on the part of the drill-officers ; for each succeed- 
ing training day brought out a fresh lot of raw "plow 
joggers," who knew as little about military evolu- 
tions as they did about rendering a classical symphony. 
However, after consuming much time and wasting 
an immense amount of vital force and choice language, 
the drill-masters finally brought the men to such a 
degree of united control over their legs as would en- 
able them to march in tolerably straight ranks, though 
they never attained the solid precision of regulars. 

But "General Training" was usually held at Trenton, 
and was the gi'eat public event in the days of "Auld 
Lang Syne;" for which occasion the hotel-keepers in 
that aristocratic burg made extensive preparations 
in the culinary line — roast pig, baked beans and brown 
bread — while booth-keepers baked stacks of ginger- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 211 

bread and brewed quantities of spruce beer from spruce, 
dandelion and wintergreen "direct." The militia sol- 
diers furbished up their rifles, muskets and shot- 
guns; captains had new gold and silver lace sewed 
on their uniforms, and cockades fastened to their stove- 
pipe hats. If fair weather prevailed, the whole coun- 
try-side turned out, wagon loads of people came pour- 
ing in, fifes and drums were heard in all directions — 
and these martial instruments assembled together 
made all the uproarious din they are so capable of 
producing. 

But these days of patriotic demonstrations were 
followed by a period of inertia or retrogression in 
matters military. Owing to a gradual lack of inter- 
est in discipline and drill on the part of the men, mili- 
tia training here became demoralized before 1840. 
And as the country was rapidly increasing in popu- 
lation, the uselessness of requiring active military 
duty from the whole body of citizens was obvious, 
and felt to be an unnecessary burden; notwithstand- 
ing the United States Militia had constituted the 
bulk of the fighting force in the war of 1812. 

Among those in Remsen who received appointment 
to office and were thus endowed with military titles 
that adhered to them through all their remaining 
years of life, and conceded by common accord to be 
most deservedly borne as marks of distinction and 
honor, were: Colonels, Mather Beecher and Griffith 
James; Majors, Andrew Billings and Samuel Dustin; and 
Captains Zalmon Root, Russel Fuller, William Rock- 
wood, Nathaniel Rockwood, Jr., and Thomas Abrams. 

THE COLD SUMMER AND GRASSHOPPERS 

The year 1816 was known throughout the United 
States and Europe as the coldest ever experienced. 



212 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

January was so mild that most persons here allowed 
their fires to go out, except for cooking purposes. 
There were a few cool days, though most of the time 
throughout the month the air was mild and spring- 
like. February was also mild, though some days 
were colder than any in January. The first week in 
March was inclined to be windy. April came in warm, 
but as the days grew longer the air became colder, 
and by the first of May there was a temperature like 
that of winter, with plenty of snow and ice. During 
this month the young buds were killed by frost; ice 
formed half an inch thick on ponds and rivers; corn 
was killed, and the fields were replanted again and 
again, or until it became too late to raise a crop; and 
when the last of May arrived, all new vegetation had 
been killed by the cold. 

During the first week in June, snow fell almost with 
the violence of a winter storm, so that it laid from one 
to three inches in depth over the whole face of the 
country. Frost and ice were common during the whole 
month, and almost every green thing was killed. 
July came in with ice and snow, and on the Fourth 
ice as thick as window glass formed throughout New 
England, New York, and in some parts of Pennsyl- 
vania. To the consternation of everybody, August 
proved the worst month of all. Almost every green 
thing, in this country and Europe, was blasted by 
frost. There was great privation, and thousands of 
persons would have perished had it not been for the 
abundance of fish and wild game. From the 5th to 
the 15th of September came the mildest weather of 
the season, while October was remarkable for its cold 
nights. Snow fell on the 18th of the latter month 
to the depth of eight inches. It lodged upon the 
trees, then rain fell and froze upon it, foraiing so 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 213 

heavy a weight that the branches were unable to 
sustain the great load, and forest and fruit trees were 
badly broken. November was in keeping with her 
sister months, when sufficient snow fell on the 10th 
to make good sleighing, and on the 12th the stage 
passed through here on runners. December was 
slightly more favorable. 

Naturally there was very little hay gathered in 
1816, and this was mostly fed to stock before winter 
set in; and when winter proper came, the settlers 
turned their cattle out to browse on hemlock boughs 
or anything they could find to sustain life. Capt. 
Simeon Fuller, of Steuben, gave much of the hay he 
had gathered, and some which he had carried over 
from the previous year, to those who were unable to 
buy; while those who came to him with money to pay 
for the accommodation, he sent elsewhere. After 
his supply was exhausted, he turned his own cattle 
out with those of his poorest neighbors, to pick their 
living as they could. 

In direct contrast to 1816, was the year 1827-1828, 
when there was no winter. 

The year 1820 was fraught with a most discouraging 
outlook to the inhabitants here owing to a plague of 
grasshoppers. Like the locusts of Egypt, they threat- 
ened to "devour every green thing," and various 
means were resorted to in efforts to exterminate 
the pests. One Welsh settler informed his neighbors 
that he had discovered a means whereby he thought 
the plague might be checked. He said he had built 
a fire under a caldron kettle filled with water, and 
when the water reached the scalding point, he drove 
the grasshoppers into it. 

A pious dominie, whose farm bordered the Cincin- 
nati creek, sought to rid his fields of the invaders by 



214 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

making a straw rope of great length, and going to the 
side of a field most remote from the creek, he held one 
end of the rope while his son held the other, and they 
thus walked together toward the stream, dragging 
the rope after them, hoping by this means to force 
the grasshoppers into the water. They had proceeded 
but a few yards when the dominie, looking back and 
seeing the air so filled with the hopping and flying 
creatures that the sun was darkened as by a cloud, in 
despair dropped his end of the rope saying, "My son, 
it is useless to fight against the Almighty;" and then, 
in the words of Eli of old, piously exclaimed, "It is 
the Lord's will, let Him do what seemeth to Him good." 

MURDERS AND GHOSTS 

In early times every well regulated community had 
its haunted house, or haunted locality, a reputation 
usually gained in consequence of some crime perpe- 
trated or alleged. Remsen came early to the front 
in this respect. About 1796 there appeared here on 
horseback a man named James Bull, brother of the 
pioneer Amos Bull, who was said to have brought a 
considerable sum of money with him. After a brief 
call at the house of one of the settlers in the eastern 
part of the township, he resumed his journey on the 
way to a hundred-acre farm he had recently purchased 
but not settled upon, located in the northwest corner 
of Lot No. 95 of Remsenburgh Patent. His journey 
led him east of Fairchild Corners, through a deep 
hollow filled with densely growing trees and under- 
growth that crowded closely upon the rude, narrow 
bridle path. So thick was the growth of trees and 
so dense the foliage, that the sunlight, even at mid- 
day scarcely ever penetrated there. In this dismal 
place the rider was murdered, and ever after it was 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 215 

called "black hollow," or the "haunted place," and 
many grewsome tales were told of spectres seen there. 

Years after, it was said, an old man on a bed of 
sickness and supposedly near death, sent for a neigh- 
bor and confessed to having committed the deed. 
Whether the murderer died of this sickness, or whether 
he continued to live and suffer remorse for his crime, 
is to the writer unknown. At least no effort was 
ever made to bring him to justice. 

About the middle of April, 1841, three young men 
were sent out to fell trees on what was known as the 
"Wetmore Lot," near the farm of the late Chester 
Kent. One was a colored man, about twenty-five 
years of age, named William Johnson, and commonly 
called "Black Bill." The others were Tom Williams 
and a man named Rowlands. All being somewhat 
intoxicated, they soon became involved in a quarrel, 
the colored man was killed and his body thrown into 
a pool of water. 

His companions fled, disappearing from these parts, 
and no measures were ever taken to apprehend them. 
Johnson's body was found and buried in Fairchild 
Cemetery; but was exhumed at night and carried 
away, it was surmised, for dissection purposes by doc- 
tors living in Remsen, and secreted somewhere within 
the village. The fears and credulity of the people 
were so worked upon by the many "ghost stories" 
circulated, that every barn, shed and abandoned loft 
was claimed by different ones to furnish a hiding place 
for the body, until children and timid women feared 
to go out after nightfall. Indignation was roused to 
a high degree, and threats having been made to 
search for evidence to use against those suspected of 
having committed the act, the body was secretly 
carried back and hurriedly buried. Shortly after, a 



2i6 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

young woman while walking through the cemetery 
was terrified at discovering a hand of the corpse pro- 
truding from the grave. Notice of this fact was 
given the town authorities, and again the murdered 
man was given decent burial. 

One of our authorities for this narrative says that 
Johnson was a slave, owned by James Sheldon. An- 
other says that he was owned by 'Squire Samuel Sizer, 
of Steuben. Slaves being "portable property," both 
statements may be correct. Still, since the institu- 
tion of slavery had ceased to exist in the State of 
New York several years prior to the death of John- 
son, it is clear that he was not a slave at the time of his 
death; though either or both of the men mentioned 
may have owned him at some period before he was 
liberated by legislative enactment. 

CURRENCY SCARCITY 

Much inconvenience was experienced from lack of 
currency, a condition that of course prevailed through- 
out the whole country during the early years of the 
republic, and threatened the very vitals of every 
commercial enterprise in the land, both great and 
small. For many years not only the tradesman, but 
the craftsman as well, was forced to resort to barter 
and exchange. Hides were tanned on shares, the 
miller took toll of grist, the blacksmith exchanged 
his work for products of the farm, and the carpenter 
received in payment such commodities as his em- 
ployer had to offer — hay, wood, grain, lard, butter 
or pork. 

It was during this period that a farmer of Steuben, 
his family having outgrown the accommodations of 
his domicile, called a carpenter from the village and 
exj^lained to him the changes he desired to make in 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 217 

his house. After carefully going over the matter to- 
gether, the farmer asked for an estimate of the cost. 
The carpenter scratched his head in serious deliber- 
ation for a time, and then, turning to the farmer, 
abruptly asked: "How much pork have you got?" 

Although men of various trades early began to lo- 
cate here, the settlement was not large enough to 
afford them adequate employment, and, as we 
have previously shown, artisans in the newer settle- 
ments were oftentimes compelled to travel great dis- 
tances to obtain work. In 1816, Robert M. Jones, 
a mill-wright and carpenter, and John G. Jones, a 
stone-mason, having heard that Le Ray de Chaumont, 
the French nobleman who had settled a colony of his 
countrymen on his estate in the present County of 
Jefferson, was about to erect mills and build a number 
of houses for his tenants, walked from Remsen to 
Le Ray's purchase, a distance of eighty miles, only 
to learn that the nobleman had deferred his plan of 
operations until the following year. He showed them 
every courtesy, kindly provided for them until they 
were ready to return, and expressed deep regret that 
he was unable at that time to give them employ- 
ment. 

To secure work upon the Palatine bridge across 
the Mohawk river when that structure was building, 
these same men walked the entire distance, about 
fifty miles, carrying their tools upon their shoulders. 
Starting from Remsen, they took the State road through 
Prospect, Russia, Herkimer and so on traveling all 
night, arriving at Palatine to commence labor with 
the rest of the workmen at sunrise, and continued at 
their task until sundown. 

A stone-mason of Remsen was traveling on foot in 
search of employment accompanied by his helper. 



2i8 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Some distance north of Boonville they secured the 
building of an out-of-door bake-oven. When about 
to put the finishing touches on the structure, after 
several days' labor, the mason noticed that it had begun 
to settle, causing the walls to crack, threatening im- 
mediate collapse. He hastily called his helper's at- 
tention to the fact, directing him to gather up the tools 
as quickly as possible and start for home, while he 
should go into the house to collect their pay. This 
was done, and the mason soon overtook his helper 
on the road. But they had not traveled many miles 
before the irate employer came in pursuit of them on 
horseback. He told them that the oven had fallen 
to the ground, and demanded that they return at 
once and rebuild it in a substantial and workman-like 
manner, or refund the money he had paid them. 
The mason promptly told him to go to — the Tropics, 
or some other place of reputed high temperature — 
adding that he "did not warrant that oven to stand 
forever." A true story, but rather a sad commen- 
tary on the honor of this particular mason. 

MINE PROSPECTORS 

Our settlers were natural and indefatigable explorers. 
After they had duly scrutinized the surface of this 
particular "neck o' woods," and disfigured the earth's 
comeliness by slashing her rich mantle of choice tim- 
ber, leaving her disfigured with the blackened patches 
of their new clearings, they forthwith must delve into 
the recesses of her secret chambers in search of further 
treasures that might be appropriated to their use. 

About 1831 or 1832, William Piatt, then well ad- 
vanced in years, excavated and drilled in search of 
coal at a point about forty rods south of the present 
southern boundary line of the village, on the west 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 219 

side of the turnpike where there was an aperture or 
gap formed by the bursting of a spring at some former 
period. Notwithstanding his age, Mr. Piatt did the 
work unaided, digging, driUing, and removing the 
earth in a wheelbarrow to the east side of the highway, 
until he thus reached a depth of many feet; but after 
penetrating the surface drift, he found only the un- 
derlying stratum of lime-rock that forms the bed of 
the Cincinnati at that level of the stream. Having 
satisfied himself that there was no coal there, he labor- 
iously wheeled the earth back and nearly refilled the 
excavation, which of late years has been a receptacle 
for cobble-stones collected from the adjacent land. 

About this time or possibly earlier, Robert M. Jones 
was building an addition to his house located a mile 
south of the village, and had at work digging for 
foundation a man named Reese, a miner from South 
Wales, who thought that the nature of the soil indi- 
cated a deposit of coal at no very material depth, so 
he suggested that he be allowed to continue the exca- 
vation, his compensation for the labor to bide the 
result. He was permitted to go ahead with the work, 
with the ostensible purpose — to the curious — of plac- 
ing in position a water-power wheel for churning; a 
powerful volume of water flowing from a spring on 
the hill-side above making this explanation plausible. 
After digging to a considerable depth and finding 
no indications of coal, all further effort was aban- 
doned. 

In Steuben on the road leading south from Store 
Felen, near the Fuller farm, lived John T. Hughes. 
He became impressed with the idea that there was a 
stratum of coal underlying his property. So he em- 
ployed to do the drilling a young man named Daniel 
Roberts, son of Robert Roberts (Y Gof), who by the 



220 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

way was a giant in stature and strength, noted for his 
great physical endurance and skill in many athletic 
feats. This work was done in a ravine between the 
Fuller and Hughes farms, and one whole summer was 
devoted to it, but without revealing any evidence of 
a coal deposit. 

EARLY SPORTS 

The popular games of the present generation, such as 
base-ball, foot-ball, basket-ball and others of lesser 
import, were of course unknown here. Sports were 
simply what the name implies, and were esteemed 
only for the amusement or pastime they afforded, 
or as a means of physical development, or for the 
acquirement of the skill and dexterity that would 
enable one successfully to meet an adversary at wrest- 
ling, boxing, jumping, foot-racing and other athletic 
exercises. Had a prophet then arisen and proclaimed 
that a day was approaching when games would be 
exalted to the dignity of a "profession," and that the 
reports of these games would fill the columns of innu- 
merable daily newspapers to satisfy the impatient and 
hungry interest, of not only the youth but many grey- 
haired men and matronly women of the land, such a 
prophet would have been discredited beyond com- 
parison. It was so late as the years immediately suc- 
ceeding the civil war that the game of base-ball was 
introduced here, if we omit a game known as "old 
cat" that was the popular ball game among the boys 
previously. 

Being remote from any considerable stream or body 
of water, the youth of the locality were deprived of 
the healthful and pleasurable recreations that a river 
or a lake affords. Their only aquatic diversions 
therefore were confined to disporting in the "swim- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 221 

ming holes," where the boys of each generation from 
the earUest settlement to comparatively recent years, 
we believe, enjoyed this sport; and carried away with 
them on occasion, to be borne in patient and silent 
suffering, the cross of a sun-blistered back, sometimes 
as a penalty they believed for disobedience. But 
each summer the dog-star in attendance on the sun 
in his daily circuit appeared all too soon, and with 
the arrival of dog-days, the pastime of swimming 
ceased for the season; for to indulge in the sport after 
this period was popularly believed to be conducive 
to fevers and other maladies. 

In reference to the most popular "swimming holes," 
of which there were three — all of them in Cincinnati 
creek — two are allied with circumstances of early 
historic interest. One was located a quarter of a mile 
north of the village, and was known among the boys 
as the "Upper Swimming Hole;" another was about 
the same distance south of the village, and was called 
the "Baptising Hole," from the fact that immersions 
were solemnized there as early as 1806, and it served 
this purpose at intervals as late as 1858, though other 
places in the stream equally suitable were sometimes 
chosen for these ceremonies; and the third was the 
"John Mac Swimming Hole," a mile south of town 
and just below the bridge, on the lower road leading 
to Prospect. At this place John MacDonald, the 
earliest stone-cutter to locate hereabout, quarried 
from the bed of the stream the hearth-stones and 
chimney- jambs for the first houses built in the village 
and vicinity, and also cut out material for tomb- 
stones, which he carved to mark the last resting places 
of a number of the pioneers and early settlers. Con- 
sequently there was left in the bed of the creek whence 
this material was taken a cavity of considerable depth. 



222 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

though of no great area; and here the more venture- 
some boys dived off the rocks above into the dark, 
cool waters, glorying in the achievement which made 
them akin to heroes in the eyes of their more youth- 
ful or less courageous companions. 

GUNPOWDER PLOT 

Back in the '40s there came to Remsen a practic- 
ing veterinary, claiming he was what in our day might 
be styled a "specialist" in the treatment of "ring 
bone" in horses, and hence soon was dubbed the "Ring 
Doctor." However, evidently believing that he saw 
an opportunity for an easier and more rapid manner 
of acquiring money than by his alleged profession, 
and his cupidity getting the better of the little moral 
sense he possessed, he conceived the idea of establish- 
ing a resort that this community would not tolerate, 
and forthwith began the erection of a house for this 
purpose. 

Rumors of his nefarious design began to be whis- 
pered about, and several of the foremost men of the 
place determined to thwart the scheme. For this 
purpose a plan was formulated by them that might 
properly be termed "a gunpowder plot." The truth 
of the rumors circulated was verified, soon after the 
building the "doctor" had erected was completed. A 
merchant of the village contributed gunpowder, which 
was placed under the unoccupied house at night, and 
a certain blacksmith applied a lighted fuse. While the 
fire was slowly eating its way toward the gunpowder, 
some of the men engaged in the plot — about twenty in 
number — hurried to the "doctor's" lodging place, 
some hundred rods or more away, and roused him 
from his slumbers in time to see his house and hopes 
vanish in a flash more brilliant than had ever illumined 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 223 

the picture of his dreams, and to hear the falling tim- 
bers of his new building sound the knell of his vile 
project. He immediately left for parts unknown, never 
to return. 

FIRES AND FIREMEN 

The Peter Becker Inn, later conducted by William 
Piatt, was burned previous to the year 1800, and 
doubtless was the first building consumed by fire 
here. The next building destroyed was before 1820, 
also an inn or tavern, kept by Joseph Halstead and 
located a little south of the Steuben road corner. In 
March, 1840, the Phelps saw-mill was consumed, and 
in January, 1848, the dwelling and blacksmith shop 
of Hugh Thomas was burned, together with another 
blacksmith shop, which stood south of that owned 
by Mr. Thomas. The upper tavern was destroyed 
by fire in the winter of 1857-1858, and about a year 
later the residence of Mrs. William Evans, north of 
the Phelps property was burned. The building which 
had once been the fulling and cloth-dressing mill 
owned by John G. Jones, just south of the village 
on the bank of the creek, was burned about 1860. In 
November, 1866, the hotel barns and sheds of Jacob 
Lewis were burned, also a house which adjoined the 
bams on the south. On January 17, 1867, the stone 
store, two framed stores, and an adjoining dwelling 
were burned. About 1869 or 1870, the blacksmith 
shop of Rowland Anthony, at the south end of the 
village was burned. A year or two later, what had 
been the Beecher tannery, afterwards converted into 
a cheese factory, was in this manner destroyed. The 
first depot of the Utica & Black River railroad, built 
about 1855, was consumed by fire in the '70s, or 
thereabout. In May, 1892, the Baptist church, which 



224 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

stood on Maple street, was burned, together with a 
dwelling adjoining on the south. A house built by- 
Benjamin Beynon, of Alder Creek, as a home for his 
aged mother, located near the railroad in the south 
part of the village, was destroyed by fire. 

A fire company was organized July 19, 1845, and 
the village trustees appointed the following as fire- 
men: George P. Bridgeman, Morgan Owen, John 
Edmunds, Owen E. Jones, William L. Williams, Wil- 
liam E. Lewis, Thomas Jones, Edward James, Henry 
Crosby, Griffith J. Griffiths, Isaac W. Roberts, Delos 
Beaurhyte, A. H. Doty, Francis Prindle and Seth 
Wells, Jr., who were ordered "to appear in uniform 
adopted by themselves." It was called "Engine 
Company No. 1." Isaac W. Roberts was chosen fore- 
man, and a uniforn consisting of red coat, black trou- 
sers, and black tarpaulin hat was adopted. On the 
same date also, a Hook and Ladder Company was 
organized, with nine members, John T. Griffiths, fore- 
man. A small hand-engine was procured from New 
York, and the village rejoiced in the possession of an 
eflEicient fire-company. 

CASUALTIES 

An itinerant shoemaker named Yates, who lived 
north of the village, was asphyxiated by the fumes 
from burning charcoal, while working at his trade 
in the home of one Thomas Williams, in Remsen town- 
ship, October 21, 1840. The weather being cold, a 
pan filled with live charcoal was placed near him where 
he was at work, for the purpose of warming the room. 

Humphrey H. Humphreys, a lad of eighteen, son 
of William and Catherine Humphreys, while at work 
in the Steam Mill in Remsen village, was caught in 
the machinery and killed, November 30, 1850. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 225 

About 1866 or 1867, Margaret Davis, a little girl 
about ten years of age, while walking with school 
companions on the railroad bridge which crosses the 
creek below the village, stepped to the edge of the 
structure to look over, lost her balance, and fell twenty- 
seven feet to the rocky bed of the creek and was in- 
stantly killed. 

The first case of drowning of which we have any 
knowledge, occurred in 1823 or 1824. The victim 
was Mrs. Yates, wife of the shoemaker Yates before 
mentioned. She strayed from the road at night into 
the Piatt mill-pond, about opposite Hemen Ferry's 
store, which stood just north of the present Dynes 
Hotel. There were no buildings at that time so far 
down on the east side of the street. A little son of 
Griffith Jones (Farm), about 1835, was drowned in 
the Cincinnati about a mile and a half south of Rem- 
sen, at the John MacDonald quarrying place. A lad 
named George Turner, son of a cabinet-maker who 
lived at the north end of the village, ran from his home 
to the Piatt mill-pond, and while over heated plunged 
in the pond to bathe. He was taken with cramps 
and drowned. A little son of Dr. George P. Bridge- 
man was drowned in 1843, by falling into the creek a 
few rods north of the bridge leading to the site of the 
old Baptist church. About 1856 or 1857, Michael 
Stanton, an Irishman, who came here during the 
building of the Black River railroad, was drowned in 
a cattle-guard on the railroad, while returning at 
night to his home on the road leading from the Phelps 
saw-mill to Steuben. Henry Tyler, eleven years old, 
son of Sylvester Tyler, who had supervision of the 
Remsen Mills about 1859-1860, was drowned June 
28, 1860, while bathing in the upper mill-pond, near 
the depot. Whitfield Jones, a young son of William 



226 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Jones, of French Road, was drowned while bathing, 
near East Steuben station, about 1869. 

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS 

The following revolutionary pensioners on the 
government rolls, reported as living in Remsen in 
1840, were Stephen Manchester, aged seventy-eight, 
residing with his son, Nathaniel; Amy Green, aged 
eighty, at the home of her son Eleazer Green; John 
Stebbins, aged eighty, at the home of his son, John 
Stebbins, Jr., and Enoch Hall, aged seventy-five. 
Reported as living in Steuben was Nathaniel Ames, 
aged seventy-eight; and in Trenton township, Wil- 
liam Piatt, aged eighty-one, who resided with Cyrus 
Cook; and Joseph Halstead, aged eighty years. 

MISCELLANEOUS 

Between the years 1835 and 1840, there came to 
Remsen a stranger named Percy, who posed as a world- 
wide traveler and explorer of extensive and blood- 
curdling experiences, claiming he had discovered 
within the wilds of Patagonia a tribe of Indians speak- 
ing a language that was unmistakably Welsh. His 
statements were so plausible that many were beguiled 
by his smooth tongue into believing that these Indians 
were really descendants of the "lost tribes" of Wales, 
who in 1170 came over with the Welsh prince, Madoc 
ab Owen Gwnydd, whom some historians have set 
up as a rival to Christopher Columbus for the honor 
of discovering America. Percy gave public addresses 
in the churches, and many contributed to a fund he 
was raising for the ostensible purpose of Christianiz- 
ing and educating these long lost brethren. After 
departing with the money he had collected, he failed 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 227 

to report progress in his noble and "self-sacrificing" 
work, nor indeed was he ever after heard from. 

A miller named Leach, employed by William and 
John Piatt, claimed to be a "seer," or was what in 
these days would be called a clairvoyant. He as- 
sumed to tell where buried treasure might be found, 
and thus aroused the curiosity and cupidity of a few, 
William Piatt among the number. His assertions of 
ability to locate hidden pots of gold and silver gained 
such credence as to induce some to follow his direc- 
tions, and a few of his dupes went so far as St. Lawrence 
county in search of the hoards supposed to have been 
hidden in various parts of that section during the 
war of 1812. On one occasion an excavation north 
of Remsen village was made, near a large boulder 
on what was formerly known as the Hough farm. 

In January, 1840, was issued here the first number 
of the Welsh religious magazine, "Y Cenhadwr;" and 
about this time Robert Evans started in the book- 
binding business, both having quarters in the Stone- 
store building. 

The year 1806 was memorable and long referred 
to as "the year of the great eclipse, (y mlwydd yr 
eclipse mawr"), which phenomenon occurred in the 
forenoon of June 16, at which time stars were easily 
discernible, fowls went to roost, and twilight shadows 
covered the earth. The settlers were wont to declare 
that owing to that event, the succeeding summers 
until 1813 were cold and of shorter duration. 

SECRET SOCIETIES 

The only facts we have been able to gather concern- 
ing the early institution of a lodge of Free Masons 
in these townships, have been obtained from the min- 
utes of the Grand Lodge, from which the following 



228 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

extracts are made, though no record of officers or 
charter members could be found : — 

"March 3, 1808. — A petition from a number of 
brethren to hold a Lodge at Trenton, in Oneida 
County, by the name of Rising Sun, recom- 
mended by Amicable Lodge in Whitestown, 
and certain objections thereto by the Worship- 
ful Brother Lize, was read and referred to the 
Officers of the Grand Lodge to grant a war- 
rant if they see proper. 

"June 7, 1810. — A dispensation heretofore issued 
by the M. W. Grand Master to the brethren, 
who by their petition presented to the Grand 
Lodge on the third of March, 1808, prayed 
for a warrant to hold a Lodge by the name of 
Rising Sun at Trenton, Oneida County, and 
which was referred to the Grand Officers, was 
returned having expired, with the proceedings 
under the same, and the application for a war- 
rant renewed, but the Grand Lodge being in- 
formed that the same objections to granting 
a warrant still existed that did at first, it was 
ordered that the reference before made be 
continued to the Grand Officers. 

"Dec. 2, 1812. — Resolved, That the application 
presented on the third day of March, 1808, for 
a warrant to hold a Lodge in the town of Tren- 
ton, County of Oneida, by the name of Rising 
Sun Lodge, be granted, it appearing that the 
objections then made had since been removed. 

"March 9, 1821. — An application from Rising Sun 
Lodge No. 228 for leave to change its place 
of meeting from the Town of Trenton in the 
county of Oneida, to the Town of Remsen, in 
the same county, was read and leave granted, 
upon the Lodge providing a recommendation 
from the Lodge nearest the place of removal." 

Thus Rising Sun Lodge was chartered November 
26, 1813, and removed to Remsen in 1821. When 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 229 

the question of building an academy in Remsen was 
determined, the lodge volunteered to contribute a 
certain portion of the expense, on condition that they 
be allowed the use of the upper story of the building 
for lodge purposes. This proposition was accepted, 
and for several years they occupied those rooms. 

It is related that a certain man living some distance 
north of the village, once applied for membership. 
The committee reported favorably on the case, the 
application was voted upon, the applicant accepted 
and duly notified to present himself for initiation at 
the regular lodge meeting. A little before sun-down 
of the following lodge-night, a woman living at the 
north end of the village chanced to send her little boy 
to a neighbor to borrow a gridiron. On his way home 
the youngster met some other little boys whom he 
joined in some juvenile game, in the meantime rest- 
ing the gridiron against the Academy steps, which 
also led to the Masonic lodge rooms. A little later 
the candidate in question came riding leisurely into 
the village on horseback. Gazing with awe toward 
the "hall of mysteries" where he was so soon to be 
initiated into the wonders of the ancient craft, his 
eye lighted on the gridiron. Abruptly stopping his 
horse, he gazed at it for a moment as though doubting 
his sight, then hastily turned about and rode home. 
Afterward, he confided to his friends the sight he had 
witnessed, declaring that the worst things he had 
"ever beam tell about the doin's of the Masons" he 
believed to be true. 

After the mysterious disappearance of William Mor- 
gan, who purported to reveal the secrets of some of 
the degrees of Masonry, in a book sold broadcast 
throughout the land, the feeling against the order 
became very bitter, and the excitement intense. This 



230 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

community shared it in common with the whole coun- 
try, and threats of violence and the destruction of 
the lodge's property were openly made. Some mem- 
ber spirited away much of the paraphernalia of the 
lodge, secreting it in the attic of 'Squire Jenks Jen- 
kins' home, at Prospect, Mr. Jenkins being master 
of the lodge at that time. Later, when "Mason and 
Anti-Mason" became a political issue, the spirit of 
lawlessness could not restrain itself, and revealed its 
animosity by breaking the windows of the lodge and 
dismantling its rooms. This lodge never met openly 
again, though they continued to meet surreptitiously 
at rare intervals. 

Remsen Lodge, No. 677, F. & A. M., was organized 
in 1867, under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge 
of the state. The first meeting was held October 19, 
1867, and the lodge was instituted under a charter 
dated August 13, 1868. It was removed to Trenton 
in 1883. 

A lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows 
was organized here in 1852, under the title of "Remsen 
Lodge, No. 422." A dispensation was issued by the 
standing committee December 8, 1851, and confirmed 
by the Grand Lodge of Northern New York, August 
17, 1852. The charter applicants were Dr. J. W. 
Price, George P. Bridgeman, J. J. Kaulback, John 
R. Jones and Joseph H. Montague. The lodge was 
instituted January 12, 1852, by District Deputy 
Grand Master, J. B. Cushman. At the August ses- 
sion, in 1858, the District Deputy Grand Master re- 
ported that Remsen Lodge had surrendered its char- 
ter during that year. 

The Order of Rechabites was a temperance organiz- 
ation, which flourished throughout the country to a 
great extent about 1850, and later. Their efforts re- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 231 

suited in much good to the cause they advocated. A 
Tent of over one hundred members was reported in 
Remsen, in 1850. 

The first lodge of the Order of Good Templars was 
organized here about 1865; but, after a few years, it 
ceased to hold regular meetings. On January 11, 
1876, a new lodge of Good Templars was organized, 
with twenty members, known as "Remsen Lodge, 
No. 462." 

The first lodge of Free Masons frequently celebrated 
St. John's Day, the members meeting at the hotel 
and marching in regalia, accompanied by their wives 
and sweethearts, to the old school-house at the upper 
end of the village, where services appropriate to the 
occasion were held. There was later a St. David's 
Society, which on the day of their patron saint were 
wont to parade, decked with regalia and the emblem 
of Wales, to hold a special meeting in honor of the 
saint. A notable gathering of this society was held 
here on March 1, 1840. 



CHAPTER XI 

FAMILY HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY 

THE REMSEN FAMILY, whose original cognomen 
was Van der Beeck, dates back to a remote period in Ger- 
many and the Netherlands. The arms they bore were 
granted them in 1162, by Emperor Frederick Barbarosa, 
and indicate reputation gained in the knight service, 
etc. Certain waved lines across the shield represent 
a brook, and denote the origin of the family name, 
the words Van der Beeck signifying "of the brook." 

The progenitor of the family in America, Rem 
Jansen Van der Beeck, emigrated to this country in 
the infancy of its colonization, and was the an- 
cestor of all the Remsens in the United States. The 
early records are not agreed as to the place from which 
he came — one stating it to have been Javeren, in West- 
phalia, and another Coeverden, in Overyssel, about 
seventy-five miles southwest of the former town. 
After his arrival here he married, in 1652, Janetie 
(bom August 18, 1629), daughter of Joris Jansen de 
Rapalie; and having resided some years at Albany, 
where he and his wife were identified with one of the 
early churches, he settled at Wallabout, L. I., and 
obtained either by patent or purchase a farm which 
long after continued in the family. Rem Jansen en- 
joyed a respectable standing in Brooklyn, and was a 
magistrate during the second Dutch administration. 
He died in 1681, his widow surviving him many years. 

Of this lady a curious record is made, that when 
she was a child a squaw took her across from Cover- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 233 

nor's Island to Long Island in a tub, so narrow then 
was Buttermilk Channel. Rem Jansen was the fa- 
ther of fifteen children — all present at his funeral, 
tradition says, and all of whom married. The sons 
finally dropped the name Van der Beeck, adopting 
Remsen as theii* family name. 

No family has given more, or as many, merchants 
to the City of New York. There were three Henry 
Remsens in New York who were eminent as mer- 
chants. The first Henry (or Hendrick), was born in 
1708. His father was Rem Jansen, bom in 1685. 
The latter was a son of Rem, whose father was also 
Rem, and he was called Rem's son Rem, and finally 
became Rem Remsen, by adding to the name Rem 
the last syllable of the name Jansen. Thus we have 
the origin of the name after which our township and 
village are called. 

The first Rem Jansen Van der Beeck came out from 
Holland, in 1642. After a residence in Albany, as 
before stated, he returned to Brooklyn. 

The above mentioned Henry, or Hendrick Remsen, 
born in 1708, was the father of Henry, the original 
proprietor of Remsenburgh Patent. The latter was 
born April 5, 1736, married Cornelia Dickerson, De- 
cember 28, 1761; was a merchant of prominence in 
New York, and, in 1768, "Henry Remsen, Jr., & Co." 
are reported to have done a very heavy business there. 
Their store was in Hanover Square, though at that 
early period no buildings of New York were numbered. 
This house did a very heavy importing business, and 
like all the firms at that period, their stock of goods 
was very miscellaneous. The original Henry Remsen 
was a leading Whig at the opening of the revolution, 
and of all the Knickerbocker families of New York 
none was more worthily conspicuous than his. 



234 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Henry Remsen II, the first proprietor of this town- 
ship, was the father of nine children who reached 
maturity, only one of whom married, Henry III, to 
whom was left, or at least upon whom devolved, the 
business of selling and leasing the Remsenburgh Pat- 
ent after his father's death. He was a distinguished 
banker and at one time was private secretary to Pres- 
ident Jefferson. It was proverbial in after years 
that he was exceedingly polite and also scrupulously 
honest, insomuch that the penny postages on his 
private mail received at the bank he reimbursed from 
his own funds. He erected and occupied until his 
death a large double house of brick, on the corner of 
Cherry and Clinton streets, in Brooklyn. 

The original proprietor of the township, or Henry 
Remsen II, was one of the Committee of One Hun- 
dred, of which Isaac Low was chairman, in 1774. He 
became chairman of another great meeting of im- 
porters of goods from Great Britain. They met 
October 13, to take into consideration the dissatis- 
faction that had appeared in New York city upon the 
great advance in prices of divers articles, some of 
them the real necessaries of life. These importers 
declared that: — 

"We are determined so far as in us lies, to preserve 
the peace of the city; we think it necessary, in order 
to remove the cause of any future murmurings to make 
the following declaration: We will not, from the ap- 
prehension of a non-importing agreement, put any 
unreasonable advance upon our goods, and, where 
such an agreement shall have taken place, we will 
continue to sell them at a moderate profit and no 
more; that we will do our utmost to discourage all 
engrossers or persons who buy up goods with a view 
of creating an artificial scarcity, thereby to obtain a 
more plausible pretext for enhancing the price; that 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 23 5 

if any retailer should, by any contrary conduct, en- 
deavor to defeat these, our good intentions, we will 
as one man decline dealing with him. 

Signed, Henry Remsen." 

At the same time Mr. Remsen was importing and 
selling at his store in Hanover Square every kind of 
goods; thus the above resolution would affect him as 
seriously as any doing business in New York at that 
time. Aside from the Remsenburgh Patent, he owned 
saw-mills and fifteen hundred acres of land at Toms 
River, N. J. In addition to the care of his vast landed 
estate, Mr. Remsen had time to attend to his com- 
mercial business, for he advertises that "all persons 
who owe his late firm of Henry Remsen & Co., should 
call and pay Henry Remsen, to save trouble," and 
that he "will take pot or pearl-ashes for such debts." 
He also was connected with the Continental Congress, 
and afterward, in 1786, secretary to John Jay, when 
the latter was Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the 
Old Congress. He died March 13, 1792, before any 
permanent settlement had been made upon his patent, 
or about the time that Barnabas Mitchell located 
here. 

Henry Remsen III, who had the management of 
this part of his father's estate, was born November 
7, 1762. In 1792 he took a situation as teller in the 
United States Branch Bank, in New York city. On 
August 20, 1808, he married Elizabeth De Peyster. 
He was at that time a gay old bachelor of forty-five. 
Just previous to this event he was elected president 
of the bank, in place of Daniel Ludlow, resigned, and 
continued in the presidency until 1826. He died in 
Brooklyn, February 18, 1843. Three sons, Henry 
R., William and Robert G., and two daughters sur- 
vived him. 



236 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

This portion of the great Remsen estate was managed 
by agents for many years, with very little direct bene- 
fit to the owners. The first resident agent was Ger- 
shom Hinckley, who was succeeded by Henry Thomp- 
son. The latter lived upon the farm owned by the 
late Lewis Francis, on the hill north of the village, 
which in early days was considered the best farm upon 
the purchase. The place was long known as Thomp- 
son's Hill. Mr. Thompson was said to be an easy- 
going man, who never pressed the tenants very hard. 
If those occupying under lease showed their good 
intentions by turning over to him an old cow or a few 
sheep in payment of rent, he seemed satisfied. Squat- 
ters to a considerable number settled upon some parts 
of the patent, and caused the proprietors and their 
agents much annoyance, even putting them to some 
trouble and expense to eject them. About 1844 or 
later, what remained unsold of the Remsenburgh 
Patent, together with the leases, were transferred to 
J. Watson Williams, of Utica, in exchange for New 
York city property. 

FREDERICK WILLIAM AUGUSTUS, BARON 
DE STEUBEN, was bom in Magdeburg, Prussia, No- 
vember 15, 1730. While propriety demands that in an 
historical sketch of the township of Steuben due promi- 
nence be accorded its original owner and most illustrious 
citizen, still the story of his devotion and sacrifices in 
the cause of American liberty is a part of our National 
history; and we feel justified in giving here only a 
brief synopsis of his life, embracing such collected 
incidents as may serve to throw light on his relations 
to this section and his mode of life while residing here 
on his estate. He was educated at the Jesuit Col- 
lege of Neisse and Breslau, and became cadet in an 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 237 

infantry regiment in 1747, an ensign in 1749, and 
lieutenant in 1753. In 1757 he distinguished him- 
self at the battles of Prague and Rossbach, in 1758 
was appointed an adjutant general, and was in the 
battles of Kay and Kunersdorf in 1759, in the latter 
of which he was wounded. In 1762 he was made 
adjutant general on the King's staff. He was a member 
of Frederick's academy of young officers, who were 
under his special instruction; and after the siege of 
Schweidnitz, in which he participated, the King pre- 
sented him with a valuable lay benefice. At the close 
of the seven years' war he accompanied to several 
courts of Europe the Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechin- 
gen, who in 1764 made him grand marshal and general 
of his guard. 

In 1777, while on a visit to France, the Baron was 
induced by the Count St. Germain to go to America. 
He arrived at Portsmouth, N. H., from Marseilles, 
December 1, and immediately wrote to Congress and 
to General Washington, tendering his services as a 
volunteer. Shortly afterward he went to York, Pa., 
where Congress was in session, was directed to join 
the army under Washington, and during the winter 
arrived at Valley Forge. On May 5, 1778, he was 
appointed inspector-general, with the rank of major- 
general, and in June he was at the battle of Monmouth. 
He prepared a manual for the army, which was ap- 
proved by Congress in 1779, and introduced the most 
thorough discipline. In 1780 he was a member of 
the court-martial on the trial of Major Andre. In 
the same year he was placed in command of the troops 
in Virginia, and in January following was active in 
harassing the British forces under Benedict Arnold. 
In the summer he was attached to General La Fay- 
ette's division, and took part in the siege of York- 



^ g HISTORY OF REMSEN 

+ xrr. Tn 1790 Congress voted him a life annuity 
ofT2 500 Sveral oTthe states passed resolutions 
: kfowtdging his services and voted h.mtracj. of 
land New Yorli presented him with 16,000 acres, 
comprislg a part of the township o Steuben, and 
lie nassed much of his subsequent lite here. 

ThT Baron was a man of strong feelings, subject 
to sudden bursts of passion, but e-r ready to ^one 

tor an injury. The following '^"^^^'^^.f '"e^ew 
tive of the generosity of his dispos.ton. At a review 
he directed that an officer be arrested for a fault oi 
which he thought he had been guilty. Later on being 
informed of the officer's innocence, he d^^ted ™at he 
be brought forward, and in the presence of the troops, 
whil the rain was pouring upon his uncovered head 
\ Iked forgiveness in the toUowmg words Su-, the 

mSake which was made, might, by throwing the line 
Sto confusion, have been fatal ifthe presence of an 
enemy. I arrested you as its author; but I have rea 
son to believe I was mistaken, and that m th^ instan e 
vou were blameless. I ask your pardon. Return to 
vour Command. I would not deal unjustly by any 
mu* less by one whose character as an officer is so 

"Mter''''thl' surrender at Yorktown, the superior 
officers of the American army, together with their 
aUies vied with each other in acts of civihty and at- 
:Sn to the captive British. Enter^nments were 
riven by all the major-generals, except by Baron 
Iteuben He was above prejudice or meanness but 
pov^r^y prevented him from displaying that .ber- 
Xv towards them which was being shown by others. 
?'?hil Xation he called on Colonel f tew^t "rfo™" 
ng him of his intention to entertam Lord CornwaUi^ 
and requesting that he advance a sum of money as 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 239 

the price of his favorite charger: "'Tisa good beast," 
said the Baron, "and has proved a faithful servant 
through all the dangers of the war; but though painful 
to my heart, we must part." Colonel Stewart im- 
mediately tendered his purse, recommending the sale 
or pledge of the Baron's watch, should the sum the 
purse contained prove insufficient. "My dear friend, 
replied the Baron, "'tis already sold. Poor North 
was sick and wanted necessaries. He is a brave fel- 
low, and possesses the best of hearts. The trifle it 
brought is set apart for his use. My horse must go 
— so no more. I beseech you not to turn me from my 
purpose. I am a major-general in the service of the 
United States; and my private convenience must not 
be put in a scale with the duty which my rank impe- 
riously calls upon me to perform." 

The following is taken from Clark's "History of 
Onondaga": — 

"In 1794, a son was born to Mrs. Shaeffer, which 
was undoubtedly the first birth in the village [Man- 
lius.j He was named Baron Steuben, in honor of 
the famous general of that name, who about this 
time, spent a night at the house of Mr. Schaeffer, 
on his way out to Salt Point, with General Stephen 
Van Rensselaer and General William North. The cir- 
cumstances of this have been related to the author of 
follows: On the return of the party from Salt Point, 
whither they had been to select a site for a blockhouse, 
they spent the night at the house of John A. Shaeffer, 
Inn keeper, at Manlius. The guests were consider- 
ably fatigued with their journey and the labors of 
their important trust, and retired early to rest. Dur- 
ing the night there seemed to be an unusual stir about 
the house, and as the hour of midnight approached, it 
still increased, and before morning, transpired one of 
those unpostponable events incident to all prosperous 
and increasing families. The Baron was greatly an- 
noyed during the night, so that he scarcely slept a 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 



Wink. The frequent shutting of doors continual 
tramping of busy feet and hu^^ed^^^^^ ^^^^,^ 

voices, which ^/IL^^^^^cl^ilVjes^ng events, 
nervousness and the ii^PO™,^^^^'/^ The house was 
kept his mind ma ^ontmual tumult. J^^\ ^^^^^ 
built of logs only one story higj^, ^ ^-^^^ 

below; the chamber the whole size otjne .^^^^^ 

only loose boards for a A^^-f ^£'ber w^s occupied 
means than a ladder. This ^hamoer w ^ 

by the. distinguished guests^^^^^^ ^^, 

companions of the hero of to tales P ^^ ^.^ 

not so the Baron. He ^tten turneu ^^^ually 

bed of straw seekmg ^^^^^ and fin^^^^^^^ 

wondering what on ^.^^^^ could ex^^^^^ .^^^ ^^ 

commotion, and he finally workean 

almost uncontrollable passion wh^chc^^^^^ ^^^^^ 

be restrained till ^ommg. On the ear^ ^^^ 

repeat; your house is full of gossips ^n ^^^^^^^^. 

and dared not mt nis nt^ciu, w 

disturbance during the night But soon to g ^^^ 

lief to his troubled ""n^.',,\"X?M forth threaten- 
angry Baron, who «=^ ?*'" ^-^f^*™^?, nfe^ 
ings and storm, bearing in her arms an in 

tenirt?o^^s^'wrrle1f\^t1le trouble and 
priety of his conduct, his habitua^g^^^^ ^^^^^^ 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 241 

to Mr, Shaeffer and his wife, and offered to bestow 
his own name on the new visitant, which offer was 
accepted, and forthwith the Baron drew a deed of 
gift for two hundred and fifty acres of land, from his 
domain in Oneida, and after breakfast, with his friends, 
went on his way rejoicing." 

In a letter to the writer, previously referred to in 
these pages, Mr. Simeon Fuller says: — 

"The Baron employed Samuel Sizer to clear sixty 
acres of land and to build him a log house near the 
center of his patent. The locality is known to-day 
as 'Sixty Acres.' On a level piece of ground, south 
of and within sight of his house, the Baron had cleared 
up some twelve or fifteen acres on which he intended 
to build a church in which to hold religious services 
in the forenoon on Sundays, and ball games, foot- 
races and other athletic games in the afternoon, thus 
introducing German customs. Soon after he came 
on to his patent he purchased a yoke of oxen of a neigh- 
bor who recommended them as all right in every way. 
The oxen proved almost worthless, having been heated. 
When the man came for his pay, the Baron seized his 
cane with the intention of giving him a caning. His 
aide interfered, saying that Yankees were educated 
to that kind of dealing, beginning as boys, cheating 
one another swapping jack-knives. 'If that is so,' 
said the Baron, 'he is not so much to blame. Pay 
the man his money, but he must not show himself 
here again.* 

"My grandfather. Captain Simeon Fuller, related 
the following incident of the revolutionary war. After 
the surrender of Cornwallis, at Yorktown, there was 
great rejoicing throughout the country and in the 
army, as it was thought the war was near the end. A 
day was set apart in the army to celebrate the victory. 
The Baron was commanding officer, and a great deal 
of powder was burned. The men were drawn up in 
line, and a part of the program was to commence 
firing at the right of the line, each soldier to fire his 
piece when he saw the smoke from the third piece 
from him. My grandfather was standing about op- 
posite the Baron and a new recruit next to my gi*and- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 
242 

t tv,„r Thpv loaded by word of command given by 
th^&aron The recruft was not exP«-t enough to 

^¥t etb^^TeVe^adTthn^^^n whf dod^^d 

and n'^7'y,tZota-En'^&h: •WhTae deflel you 
he cried out J" broken tngi next to the 

"^"'iMnld WmThal he would be hanged next day sure. 
"'^'wUftMcl.^ gathered in front ?f the Baron 

-sM!^H?Sm^iBSS 

L'tugS' ^Hel^sitl'l^dt moment and said: 'I be- 
hh^^^ rht'c^tfyTred and white va 

^""^TZl'^mZr^roi land which New York had 
,ive?him^"L\Tol^gh stony trac^fi^^^^ 

It 'm wS'ls hisVettmefarJiS with the 

iUrpe!M3|tinW^^^^^ 

different counties, and flf ^J,"^! ° (he bright waters 

°? gn'erSU'^Thi "o™be' vl! hoL during 
of One da ^aKe. xn ^^ ^^^.^ get 

iotrf and Seared tor fteSor houle which was to 

enlarged after a sho^ttim^^^^^^ ^^ secretary, 

house ot two roomb. ^^^^inrth or Walker or some 
was his constant inmate North or^W^ ^^^^ 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 243 

war horse down the Une, did he feel a truer pleasure 
than when he guided Molly, his quiet little mare, 
through the stumpy and half -worn paths of Steuben. 
In the evening, chess or a book filled up his time pleas- 
antly. And thus the last four years of his life glided 
smoothly away, with little in them to recall Freder- 
ick's camp or the drawing-room of Hechingen,* but 
with something of a grateful variety, and much to 
awaken a placid interest. During the day he rode 
through the fields, watched improvements and gave 
directions. In the evening he saw his friends and 
neighbors."! 

"And when the chess-board and the books were 
laid aside for the Gazette de Leyde and the last news 
of the French Revolution, one would have been glad 
to hear the discussions between the old Aide of Fred- 
erick the Great, who never could believe in Prussian 
reverses, and his neighbor, Colonel Mappa, who was 
also turning his sword into a pruning-hook, and who 
was ever one of his favorite guests. Indeed, their 
new interests as well as their old ones were much the 
same, as was their society."| 

"When, in his turn, Baron Steuben announced a 
visit to Olden Barneveld, our Hollanders met him as 
he appeared at the edge of the forest, and escorted 
him in line to the house, where he was received at the 
front door by the ladies with all the courtesy and 
consideration which would have been shown him in 
the Old World."** 

When on a visit to New York, some of the Baron's 
friends rather jeered at his attempting to settle the 
mountains at the head of the Mohawk. He declared 
it was the best land in the world, and he could prove 
it. Said he, "there is Captain Simeon Woodruff, 

* The Baron was Grand Marshal at the court of the Prince of 
HohenzoUern-Hechingcn ten years. 

t Greene's "German Element in the War of Independence." 
t "Life of Francis Adrian Van Der Kemp," by Helen Lincklaen 
Fairchild. 

** "Centennial Address/' by Hon, John F. Seymour. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 
244 

who has sailed around the world with Captain Coc* 
and he has bought a farm on my patent and settled 
:„ it and if in all his voyage a better ocat,on had 
been found, he would not have done so. The argu 

ment was unanswerable. , , •„. ..tv,p Raron has 

Ppneral Washington said of him: The Baron nas 
in evei^irsttnce discharged the several trusts re- 
posed S^ him with great .eal and ability, so as to give 
him the fullest title to my esteem as a brave, mde- 
f^ticraWe iudicious and experienced othcer. 

On November 25, 1794, he was stricken with paral- 
yse and died on the 28th, surrounded by atewfnends; 
Sd Ms neighbor, friend and companion in arms. 
Captain Simeon Fuller, closed h s eyes 

In striking and pathetic contrast to the scenes ot 
his eariy life when basking in the favor of the most 
distin^lhed courts of Europe, was the scene of h^ 
S in his rude wilderness home on the hilltop in 
Steuben In this bleak month of November there 
were with him at his bedside only a few neighbors 
Tnd friends. Theirs, however, were honest and loyal 
hearts warm in their attachment, respecting his 
station and honoring him for his noble deeds. Though 
clothed ta the rough garb of pioneer woodsmen, their 
s^pathy was none the less real, their mourning 
sympamy w .^ j^^ military 

ralattXdto which was the star of knighthood 
he ha'dl ways worn during life. He was laid beneath 
an evergreen tree he had selected to overshadow his 

^The Rev. John Taylor, missionary, mention of 
whom has heretofore been made, in his journal under 
date of October 9, 1802, says:— 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 245 

find the grave of the once active and enterprising Steu- 
ben. He lies in a swamp under a hemlock, with a bier 
standing over his grave, and a few rough boards nailed 
to some trees to keep the cattle off. Alas! what is 
man, that the great Steuben should be suffered to lie 
in such a place — and without a decent monument. 
A few rods from this swamp we find the place of his 
former residence — of which I have taken a rough draw- 
ing. This is a very beautiful situation. The house 
faces the south, and there is a gradual descent for about 
80 rods and an opening about 50 rods wide. The seat 
of this great man was not indeed a palace, nor what 
we should suppose would afford contentment to the 
mind of an enterprising nobleman. It consists of two 
log houses — one at the end of the other — containing 
in the whole three rooms, unsealed. It is, however, a 
decent log house. The Baron died in a fit of numb- 
palsy." 

Owing to the running of a highway through the 
former location of his grave, the remains of the Baron 
were removed to their present resting place. It was 
about twenty-four years subsequent to Mr. Taylor's 
visit — or in 1826 — before a monument was erected 
at his grave, and then by private susbcription. It 
consisted of a polished limestone slab, about 4x7 
feet and nearly a foot in thickness, on which was the 
brief inscription: "Frederick William Augustus, Baron 
de Steuben." This slab was supported by a wall of 
masonry about two and a half feet high, surrounding 
the grave. 

Work on the present substantial and imposing 
monument — an appropriation for which having been 
made by the state — was begun in 1870, and the cere- 
mony of laying the corner stone occurred on June 1, 
that year. The monument was completed Septem- 
ber 30, 1872, and stands over his remains in the cen- 
ter of a five acre tract of forest. The Welsh Baptist 
Society of Steuben received a deed of fifty acres of 



246 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

land on condition that the five acres should be kept 
fenced and in a state of nature. 

BARNABAS MITCHELL, the pioneer settler in 
Remsen township, was bom in Meriden, Conn,, and 
came to Remsen in 1792, making a clearing and building 
a log house about five miles northeast of the village. He 
married Mary Tyler, also a native of Meriden, and of 
their eight children, Clarissa, Olive, and Tyler, were 
born in Connecticut; while Polly, Milo, Melissa, Char- 
lotte, and Amanda, were bom in Remsen. Mr. Mit- 
chell served in the revolution, enlisting July 1, 1781, in 
Captain Bingham's Company of the Fifth Regiment of 
the Connecticut Line, serving for Wallingford and Farm- 
ingham. He evidently did not come to Remsen directly 
from Connecticut, for when the first census of the State 
of New York was taken, he was in "Ballstown," now 
Ballston, Saratoga county. According to that census, 
his family consisted at that time of "One white male 
over sixteen years of age; one white male under sixteen 
years of age; and three females." The males were Mr. 
Mitchell and the son Tyler, and the females were Mrs. 
Mitchell and the two daughters, Clarissa and Olive. 
He died March 14, 1813, and was buried in Fairchild 
Cemetery. 

Milo Mitchell, born in Remsen township October 26, 
1797, the fifth child of Barnabas and Mary (Tyler) Mit- 
chell, was a man of enterprise, perseverance and indus- 
try, and one of the most successful farmers in Oneida 
county, owning at the time of his death fourteen hun- 
dred acres of the best farming land in the township of 
Remsen. He built the first cheese-factory in the town- 
ship, being the second installed in the United States, 
and served in the town offices of highway commissioner, 
assessor, and justice of the peace. In 1819 he married 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 247 

Catherine, daughter of Gershom Hinckley, and the 
children by this marriage were Caroline, who married 
Horace Dupuy; James, and Sarah. Mrs. Mitchell died 
January 11, 1829, and he married second, Mrs. Anna 
Humphreys, widow of John Humphreys, and by her he 
had five children, as follows: Catherine, Eliza Ann, 
Hannah, Harriet, and Belle, the last of whom married 
Capt. Andrew Wood. Mr. Mitchell died March 31, 1870. 
James Mitchell, son of Milo and Catherine (Hinck- 
ley) Mitchell, was born in Remsen December 26, 1823. 
He married, December 26, 1844, Sarah, daughter of 
John and Sarah (Gilbert) Thomas, of Prospect, born 
July 2, 1827, and their children were Hinckley G. ; Rosel- 
len, widow of William B. Roberts; Edwin B. ; James Ed- 
gar; Milo Jesse; and Katie B. When a young man Mr. 
Mitchell was engaged in mercantile pursuits at Pros- 
pect, and for nine years at West Branch, in the township 
of Lee. Later he removed to Remsen, having pur- 
chased the Zalmon D. Root farm, at the northern boun- 
dary of the village, which he ran in connection with 
other large farms, becoming one of the most extensive 
farmers and dairymen in this section, beside dealing 
largely in cattle. He was elected to the state legislature 
in 1853, was a member of the board of supervisors for 
five years, and held other town offices, and in 1878 ran 
on the National ticket for Congi-ess. During his whole 
life here he was one of the most active workers and gen- 
erous supporters of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and for upwards of twenty years was superintendent of 
the Sunday school. 

BENJAMIN WALKER, born in London, was a pupil 
of the Blue Coat School. He lived in France, and came 
to New York in the service of a mercantile house. In 
1778, at Valley Forge, he became aide-de-camp to Baron 



2^8 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Steuben, who always regarded him as a son. In 1781- 
82 he joined Washington's staff, and was aide until the 
close of the war. He became secretary to the governor 
of New York, then entered business with Gen. Benjamin 
Ledyard, was made naval officer of the port of New 
York, and finally, as agent of the Earl of Bath s great 
estate and to care for the lands left him by Baron Steu- 
ben, he came to Utica, then Old Fort Schuyler, where 
he spent the rest of his days, dying m 1818. 

WILLIAM NORTH, born in Maine in 1753, was an 
aide to Baron Steuben. He served as officer through 
the war, was a member of the New York Society of the 
Cincinnati, and represented New York state m the 
United States Senate. He was an Erie canal commis- 
sioner at one time, and an adjutant general in the United 
States army. He married Maria, daughter of Hon. 
James Duane. His death occurred in New York city 
January 3, 1836. 

COMFORT STARR, the founder of the Starr family 
in America, lived in Ashford, County of Kent, England. 
The earliest dates in the records in England found m 
connection with the name, is that of the baptism o Mar- 
garet Starr, January 5, 1583. With a part of his family 
Dr Comfort Starr left Ashford, went to the seaport of 
Sandwich, in Kent, and embarked for the new world m 
the ship "Hercules," of Sandwich, John Witherly, mas- 
ter With three children and three servants, he arrived 
at the "Plantation called New England" in the early 
part of 1634, and it is supposed the wife and younger 
children followed subsequently. 

Captain David Starr was the sixth in descent from 
Dr Comfort Starr— the succession being Dr. Comfort, 
Thomas, Comfort, Joseph and Thomas. The latter, 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 249 

born September 14, 1706, married Thankful, daughter 
of John and Mabel (Bowman) Griswold, bom at Weth- 
ersfield. Conn., December 19, 1715. They removed 
from Middletown to Salisbury soon after their marriage, 
where their son David was bom, March 21, 1738. The 
father died when David was about seven years old, and 
his uncle, Nathaniel Griswold, of Wethersfield, was ap- 
pointed his guardian. David was baptised in the First 
Church of Middletown, December 21, 1746, and was 
reared in Middletown. He married, first, March 29, 
1759, Ruth, daughter of Dr. Abijah and Anna (Ward) 
Moore, of Middletown, born January 1, 1742; died 
July 30, 1786. He married, second, Hannah, daughter 
of Nathaniel and Rebecca Goodman, born July 12, 1749; 
died October 12, 1818. Captain Starr for five years 
was surveyor of highways in Middletown, and also filled 
other town offices. He early joined the patriot army 
in the war for independence, and was commissioned 
First Lieutenant, January 1, 1777; Captain Lieutenant, 
April 19, 1779; and Captain, May 10, 1780. He be- 
longed to the Sixth Regiment of the "Connecticut Line." 
This regiment was raised for the "Continental Line" of 
1777, to continue through the war. It was recruited 
mainly in New Haven county, and rendezvoused at 
New Haven. In the summer of 1777, it went into camp 
at Peekskill, but was frequently detached on expedi- 
tions of outpost duty on the lines above King's Bridge; 
served in August-October on the Hudson, in Parson's 
Brigade, under Putnam, and engaged in all the move- 
ments made in consequence of the enemy's move against 
Fort Montgomery and other expeditions. The regi- 
ment wintered at West Point in 1777-78, and assisted 
in constructing permanent fortifications — "Meigs Re- 
doubt," and others — also constructed redoubts opposite 
on the east side of the river. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 

In the second formation of the "Continental Line," 
David Starr was Captain of the Fourth Regiment, 
which consisted of the enlisted men of the a^^h Reg- 
iment of the previous formation; and m December, 
ire2 the regiment consolidated for the thn^ torma- 
tion,'from January to June, 1783. He served as Cap- 
tain from January 1, 1781 to January 1, 1783 

Captain Starr was a member of the Order of the 
Cincinnati," of Connecticut. About 1790 he left 
Middletown with his family and emigrated to Steu 
bTen, and concerning him the following is from Jones 
"Annals of Oneida County;"— 

"Starr's Hill, the most elevated point of the Steu- 
hpn r^n^e "the highest land in Oneida county. The 

n'^vldL?? one of The earliest settlers in the town, 

more lenity shown him.' 

About 1809, Captain Starr gave ^P ^^^ ^^^Z \X 
moved to Lee Center, N. Y., and died August 11, 
ms while on a visit at Adams, Jefferson county 
and wis buHed there. He had twelve children, all 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 251 

born in Middletown, Conn., of whom Patty, born De- 
cember 8, 1759, died January 6, 1782. 

Ruth, born June 13, 1761, manied, June 14, 1784, 
John, son of John and Sarah (Fairchild) Cromell. 
After her husband's death she removed to New York 
state, but died at the home of a daughter in Canada. 

Thomas, born October 2, 1763, removed from 
Connecticut to Steuben, probably with his father's 
family, and remained here three or four years, then 
went to Rome, and thence to Lee Center, in 1808, 
where he bought a farm. He died September 16, 1834. 

Samuel Moore, born November 1, 1765, joined the 
Continental army when very young, and served to 
the end of the war. From 1819 until his death he 
drew a pension of ninety-six dollars a year. It is 
probable that he came from Connecticut to Steuben 
with his father, and then returned, perhaps on a visit, 
for on the records of the Episcopal church of Mid- 
dletown there is "the baptism, Feb. 7, 1796, of Frances, 
daughter of Samuel M. Starr, of Steuben." About 
1822 he left New York state and settled at Hampden, 
Geauga county, Ohio. He died June 21, 1844. 

Sarah, born December 21, 1767, died January 17, 
1804, and was buried on Starr's Hill. She married, 
January 25, 1789, Captain Joseph, son of John and 
Frances (Saltus) Ingham, who was born on the Island 
of Bermuda September 19, 1764. He was a sea cap- 
tain, but left the sea and about 1794 settled in Steu- 
ben. He was well known and highly respected here 
in his day. He died January 19, 1853. 

Elizabeth, born November 17, 1769, died April 20, 1815. 

Diana, born November 15, 1771. 

Mary, born January 24, 1774, died September 22, 
1842, at Lee, N. Y. She married, August 18, 1794, 



2^2 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Samuel Marsh, who was bom November 6, 1767, a 
farmer in Steuben. He died August 5, 1810. 

David, bom October 8, 1775, was reared m Steuben 
with few early advantages, for he could not read 
or write until taught by his wife after their marriage. 
On reaching the age of twenty-one, he started from 
home with his axe on his shoulder to make his own 
way in the world; camped in the forest now m the 
town of Champion, Jefferson county, and commenced 
a clearing. After building a log cabin and spending 
two years in hard labor on his land, he returned to 
Steuben for a wife, whom he took to h- humble home 
and where, with patient, persevenng industry united 
with tact, shrewdness and enterprise, he built up an 
extensive business and accumulated a large property, 
ovming and managing a farm, grist-mill, vil age store 
and distillery. He built a fine house complete ^ i - 
self and its surroundings, quite m contrast with his 
humble beginning. Later in life he gave up busmess, 
t^^^oZ to Adams, N. Y., where he died Novem- 
ber 24 1841, and was buried at Champion. He mar- 
rTed, first, December 20, 1800, Maria Jane, daughter 
of John and Susan (Jones) Hotchkiss, ^t New Jlaven, 
Conn He married, second, April 26, 1835, Hannah, 
daughter of Joseph P. Ward, of Watertown N Y. 

Thankful, bom December 17, 1769, died about 
1814 She married at Steuben, at the age of si^rteen, 
George son of Ichabod and Ruth (Hotchkiss) Page 
who wl bom in New Haven, Conn. They lived at 
Imyma, Chenango county, N. Y. After her death 
he married again, and died at Earlville, N. Y. 

NOADIAH HUBBARD, son of Noadiah and Phoebe 
(Fairchild) Hubbard, was bom in Middletown, Conn., 
October 11, 1765. In his youth he had a predilec- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 253 

tion for the sea, but, after making several voyages to 
the West Indies, yielded to the solicitations of his 
mother, whose first husband and oldest son were lost 
at sea, and abandoned that life. In 1791 he came to 
New York, settling at Whitesboro, where he fired the 
first brick and burned the first lime ever made or used 
there. At that time there was but one framed house 
in Utica, owned and occupied by John Post, an early 
merchant. In 1792 he came to Steuben, settling not 
far from the place selected for a residence by Baron 
Steuben, at Sixty Acres. In the winter of 1794 he 
returned to his native place, where on January 30 he 
married Eunice Ward, whom he immediately after 
brought to his forest home. Previous to this, in 1793, 
he had been offered by the Western Inland Naviga- 
tion Company the contract for the construction of 
the canal-locks at Little Falls, which he had accepted. 
He went to Middletown, Conn., hired the requisite 
number of men, procured oxen and whatever else was 
necessary for the work, returned to Little Falls, and 
finished the work during that year, being the first to 
break ground for the first canal in the State of New 
York, if not in the United States. He received one 
dollar a day for his services, and thirteen dollars a 
month each for his men, which included their board, 
he hiring them at nine dollars. 

In 1797 Mr. Hubbard left Steuben for what is now 
Champion, Jefferson county, on a tour of exploration 
with Lemuel Storrs who owned extensive tracts in 
the north. They traveled on foot over the so-called 
French Road to the High Falls on Black river, and 
eventually reached their destination. Mr. Hubbard 
remained there until fall, when he returned to Steu- 
ben for the winter. On June 1 following he again 
started for Champion, with fifteen head of cattle. 



HISTORY or REMSEN 

254 

accompanied by his neighbors Salmon Ward and 
David Starr, Jr., and thus became ^e first wMe 
settler in what is now Jefferson county. On this 
trip he remained until October, when he agam returned 
to his family in Steuben. Eariy in the spring of 1799 
he was iSned by other neighbors who had determined 
to mTgra e with him to the new settlement m the 
nortT among whom were Samuel Starr, Jotham 
wtchelt Jr.,lalmon Ward, Bela Hubbard and David 
Miller all of whom were young men, and moved his 
femUy to Champion that tall. He erected the firs 
ctoch building within the confines of the present 
County 0" Jefferson out of his own funds expecing 
to sell enough pews to reimburse him for the outlay, 
thoth in this he met with disappointment; and he 
llso built several school-houses. When eighty- tour 
years age, he constructed eleven miles of plank 
roadJrom 6reat Bend to Copenhagen-all of which 

showed his indomitable energy =^"d P^^™" ^ 
He was an officer in the war of 1812, wa^ appointea 
Judge in 1813, and was many times elected super- 
vlor when, ti meet with the board entailed much 
Z2hT^ he was obUged to travel long distances 
-fir t to Herkimer, when he represented Steuben 
before the organization of Oneida county, and then 
from Champion to Rome before the organization of 
Tefferson county, in 1810; and subsequenty to the 
sett Tthe new county. His private business was 
extensive and varied, in addition to the pubhc duties 
he had to perform. His son, Hiram, born m Steuben 
October 30, 1794, was one of three sons whom the 
parente took to the new home in November, U99 
[ravehng much of the way through the wilderness on 
horseback. He became prominent in Jefferson county. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 255 

JOHN PLATT was born at Huntington, L. I., 
January 2, 1735, and came to Steuben from Freder- 
icksburg, Duchess county, in 1792. His first wife 
was Mary Blyndenburgh, who died prior to his coming 
here. Their children were Wilham; Ehzabeth; Rich- 
ard; Mary; Samuel, born May 3, 1766; Phoebe; Abi- 
gail; Obadiah; John Jr.; and Experience, born Febru- 
ary 22, 1777. May 4, 1779, he married Phoebe Hoyt 
Husted, of Duchess county, who was born May 25, 
1753, widow of Samuel Husted, a revolutionary sol- 
dier who died a prisoner in New York city December 
15, 1777. Mr. Piatt died at Alder Creek, July 30, 
1810, in his seventy-sixth year. 

William Piatt came on with the family, in 1792. He 
married Mary, daughter of Matthew and Mary Hoyt, 
born April 30, 1769. In 1796 he removed to Remsen, 
where he bought the farm now owned by John Hum- 
phreys. It was all woodland then, except a clearing 
of about ten acres upon the fiat. On this place there 
was a log house, where one Peter Becker conducted 
an inn. On July 18, 1798, Mr. Piatt bought of Gerrit 
Boon, Herman Le Roy and William Bayard, who 
represented the Holland Land Company, Lot 42 of 
Service's Patent, which included the water-privilege 
at Remsen village, paying therefor $507,85, "current 
money of the State of New York." A few years later 
he built the framed house on the Humphreys place, 
which he conducted as a public house for many years, 
and improved the saw-mill that had been erected 
below the falls, and also built a grist-mill. He was 
wounded in the revolution, and drew a pension, hav- 
ing served as corporal in Captain Delevan's Company, 
Colonel Malcom's Regiment. Some years prior to 
his death he and his brother, John Piatt, Jr., became 
involved in litigation, and the farm and mill property 



^ ^ HISTORY OF REMSEN 

nassed into the hands of Lyman & Brown, lawyers, 
orutica and the late Robert M. Jones received his 
title teds to both these properties from the above 
a™ about 1835. When at a very advanced age 
mT pTatt removed to Western where he d.ed Apnl 
8 1847 his wife having died there January 15, 1837. 
Thev were both buried in Prospect cemetery 

ObaXh Piatt settled in Steuben townsh.p a mde 
and a halt west of Steuben Corners, ™ "ff "^ 
was a farmer and removed to lUmois about 1837. 

esscounfy April's 1"^. was eighteen years of age 

F ': r^otr; Ne^c':n^a:""onn.:"wC 
t m:"pS:Chter of Matthew and Ma^ 
Hovt who was born there February 27, ""• "« 
remained there about three years, then returned to 
sruben bringing his wife and household goods up 
a: North river \y boat to Albany, thence by o^ 
team and wagon. Their children were Salb^, bom 

at New Canaan, September l^' /™^' ^''f/atf'ben 
Creek June 29, 1809; William L., born m Steuben 
Cctober 25, 1802, died at Alder Creek January 27 
1864 Loui;a, born in Steuben December 13, 1803 
riied September 1, 1892, unmarried; Mary B., born 
f^Tren?™ township March 11, 1804, died at Alder 
Creek to 1847; Abigail, bom at Remsen September 4 
i805 Id at Alder Creek in 1840; Anna, born at 
Aider Creek June 24, 1807, died at HjU on. N. Y 
May 27, 1871; Matthew H., bora "t Alder Cr^ek 
April 22, 1809, died at Prospect May H' ^^^^ ^^^ 
ther bora at Remsen November 3, 1811, marriea 
John F?Sawyer, and died -t Hamilton N^ Y aged 
upwards of eighty-five years; Sally B., bora at Kern 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 257 

sen May 18, 1812, died at Remsen May 8, 1813; 
Chauncey, born at Remsen August 16, 1816, died at 
Alder Creek July 25, 1869; Eliphalet, born in Trenton 
township February 12, 1817, died at Utica, Septem- 
ber 1848. Mr. Piatt died at Alder Creek July 25, 
1869, aged ninety-five years. 

LEMUEL HOUGH was born in Southwick, Mass., 
October 12, 1777, though one account says that he 
was born in Meriden, Conn. He was a member of 
the household of Baron Steuben, came to the town- 
ship with the Baron, and was with him when he died. 
Some years after, or in 1803, he removed to Remsen 
village, where, in company with his brother-in-law, 
Broughton White, he established an ashery for the 
manufacture of potash. On May 16, 1802, he married 
Huldah Johnson, born January 2, 1784. They had 
six children, three of whom, Eveline, Lemuel and 
Susan J., died in infancy. Eliza, born July 25, 1804, 
died at Turin, N. Y., July 22, 1882; Alfred N., born 
September 10, 1807, died at Canastota, N. Y., Sep- 
tember 5, 1875; Homer J., born May 12, 1810, died 
at Turin, N. Y. Mr. Hough was owner of extensive real 
estate near Alder Creek, N. Y., where he was prominent 
in business, and while a resident of Remsen he represented 
his district in the state legislature, in 1832. For twelve 
years he was a justice of the peace in Remsen and Boon- 
ville townships, and during the last twenty-five years of 
his life lived at Alder Creek, where he died January 22, 
1866. Mrs. Hough died June 20, 1848. 

Alfred N. Hough at an early age bought from his 
father a large tract of land in or near Forestport, and 
bravely attacked the rough soil which in due time 
returned him an abundant livelihood. On Septem- 
ber 3, 1829, he married Ann M. Way, of New Haven, 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 

25» 

Conn by whom he had three children-a son and 
two d'aughters. The son, Henry, died in early man- 
hood Of the daughters, Helen mamed W.lham 
Hulbert and died at Canastota N. Y. November 
20 1869; and Caroline mamed Eugene Stebbms ot 
ILcuse N. Y. Alfred N. was engaged in lumber- 
wat Forestport for many years, where he served 
^ju tice of the peace. In 1868 he removed wrth 
Ws family to Canastota, N. Y., where he embarked 
!;; thTcoal and lumber business, and where he died 

^tZerthnfJn Hough, born May 12, 1810 rnarried 
Elianor R. Green, who died March 5, 1861. He 
"d stond, H;nnah A. Jones, who survived h.m_ 
Mr Hough wai a practical business man, and engaged 
h, commercial pursuits and lumbermg "any years. 
In m4 he removed to Turin, N. Y., where he died 
Janua^ 27, 1877. His children were Chloe who 
June7l857. married James Cruikshank a well known 
ed^Lt'or, fo'r several years -PeHntendent of educ- 
tion for the City of Brooklyn, N. Y. TJiey "lave two 
ons. Barton an'd George Hough Cruikshank^ Alfred 
Barton son of Homer J. Hough, graduated at Ho- 
b^ College, Geneva, N. Y., in 1861, jomed the en- 
gineer corps of the 50th N. Y. Volunteers as a pr- 
™te and served during the civil war as sergeant 
fct lieutenant and captain. He studied law. and 
practiced in New York city and m Colorado. He 
died March 22, 1893. 

NATHANIEL B. JOHNSON, born in 1751, was 
among the early settlers in Steuben. He died August 
8 1801 His widow, Jerusha, died November 27, 
?829 Their children were Samuel, born May 18, 
1781- Huldah (Mrs. Lemuel Hough), born June 2, 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 259 

1783; Susan (Mrs. Broughton White), born December 
10, 1786; Sylvester, born June 25, 1788; Selden, born 
June 9, 1791; Hosley, born May 20, 1795; and Henry, 
born August 11, 1799. Sylvester and Selden removed 
to Remsen village, where they became active and 
prominent men of affairs. 

JOHN INGHAM was a wealthy ship owner and 
ship builder of the Island of Bermuda, and is said to 
have owned three hundred slaves before the emanci- 
pation in the British West Indies. He married Frances 
Saltus, and they had three sons and two daughters. 
Joseph was the eldest son, born September 19, 1764, 
and the progenitor of the family in America. Sam- 
uel S. succeeded to the family estate, and remained 
in Bermuda. Benjamin left the paternal home early 
and was never again heard of. Joseph left Bermuda 
when quite young, shipping as a cabin boy and never 
went back there, though he used to relate that at the 
time of the embargo, during the American revolution, 
his ship lay off so near the old home, that with his 
glass he could distinguish members of the family as 
they went in and out of the house. Of the daughters 
we have no record. 

"Captain Joe," as he was called, after the close of 
the war left the sea and settled at Middletown, Conn., 
where he married Sarah, daughter of Capt. David 
Starr. There were bom to them at Middletown, 
Frances S., and Joseph Jr., the latter February 21, 
1792. In 1794 Captain Ingham removed with his 
family to Steuben and bought a farm near where 
Baron Steuben was afterward buried. Two chil- 
dren were born to them here, John and Samuel S., 
the latter in 1800. Mrs. Ingham died January 17, 
1804, and was buried on Starr's Hill. 



^^ HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Captain Joe was not bred to f™' ^f J^^^Y, 
beinK very scarce in the new country he left his little 
'aXand again went to sea, along about the time of 
Fulton's first steamboat expedition up the Hudson, 
Ld be or? his return from this voyage the mother 
of the amily had died. Several years afterward he 
married Dolfy Miller, who was always known m the 
S as '^Grandma Dolly." The Captam died 
January W, 1853, and was buried at Western, N. Y. 
The widow survived him some years. 

About 1810 Joseph Ingham, Jr., married Sarah Bill 
who was bom at Lebanon, Conn., the youngest of a 
rargeTamily,™nd a sister of Dr. Eari Bill, the first phy- 
Srthe township of Steuben. ^Their children were 
Sarah D Cyrus B. and Charles E. About 1816 th,s 
femt removed from New York city to Sandusky, Ohio, 
th^n a rwly settled country, and there Mrs. Ingham 
^i!? Optober 11 1817. Frances S. Ingham married 
S Sorman ln<i had three children, Samuel, Charies 
and ""ah. Samuel married, raised a family, and died 
tn Canlda. Charles married and had one child, Lillian 
S Iowa City, Iowa. Sarah married Anson Gardner, of 
Therr^^ NY. Frances (Ingham) Horman hved to be 
Lern^ety years of age, and died at Theresa. 

John Ingham, son of Captain Joseph was bom in 
1792 and died in 1878. He enlisted m the war "f 1812, 
and served at Sacket Harbor until the war closed When 
StyXe yeai^ of age the government granted h.m a 
tension His wife was Harriet Tulley, and children 
were bo'm of the union as follows: Joseph, bom May 
2 1824 removed to the west in 1844; Mary, bom Feb- 
mary i8T826, married Loren Kimble, had five chil- 
dren and they removed to the west about 1853. where 
Mrs'Ktable died shortly after; Sarah, born January 18, 
1829 married William Atkinson, and five children were 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 261 

born to them; Elizabeth, born January 11, 1830, mar- 
ried Westel Willoughby Greene, and their children are 
Lillis E., born July 21, 1853, married George Sayles, of 
Potsdam, N. Y.; Ella Ruth, born January 1, 1855, mar- 
ried Francis P. French, of New York city; John Frank, 
born September 23, 1857, married Fanny Wakefield, 
of Watertown, N. Y.; and William Camp, born De- 
cember 3, 1859, married Mabel Greene, of Water- 
town, N. Y. 

Frances, daughter of Harriet (Tulley) Ingham, born 
December 14, 1831, never married, and died in Illinois; 
Adelaide, born December 17, 1833, lived at Watervliet, 
N. Y., a member of the Shaker Community; John, Jr., 
born May 14, 1836, died at Sugar Grove, 111.; and Sam- 
uel, born October 11, 1838, married Carrie Worts. 

Samuel, the youngest son of Captain Joseph, was 
born in Steuben in 1800, married and removed to Sugar 
Grove, 111., and became prominent in that part of the 
state. 

JONATHAN ARNOLD STEUBEN, of Guilford, 
Conn., enlisted for three years in Captain Hall's com- 
pany, April 21, 1777, and was promoted to sergeant 
July 10, 1780. As shown by the pay-roll, he was in 
service from January 1 to December 31, 1781. We af- 
terward find him a sergeant in the companies of Cap- 
tains Joseph Waller, John St. John, Taylor, and J. Wells; 
and enrolled as a pensioner of the State of Connecticut, 
under the act of 1818, while a resident of New York 
state. 

After Gen. Benedict Arnold had treacherously desert- 
ed his post at West Point, Baron Steuben never failed 
to manifest his indignation and abhorrence of his name. 
While inspecting a regiment of light-horse, the name of 
Arnold, owned by one of the men, struck his ear. The 



2^2 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

soldier was ordered to the front a fine looking fellow^ 
his horse and equipments in excellent order. Change 
your name, brother soldier," said the Baron,;you are 
too respectable to bear the name of a traitor. 

"What name shall I take. General? ^ ^^ 

"Take any other name, mine is at your service. 
Most cheerfully was the offer accepted, and his name 
was entered on the roll as "Steuben." 

The Baron met this young man after the war and 
eave him one hundred acres of land located m he town- 
ship of Steuben, and upon which he settled and w.th h^ 
family lived many years. The farm was on the Fuller 
road, where afterward lived Robert Jo"f «,, .^hy^los). 
He had two sons, Benjamin Walker, and W>lham Au- 
gustus North Steuben. The latter, who was at one 
time superintendent of the county poor house was a 
practical man and a worker. The tollowmg mc.dent is 
told Thim: One day late in fall, he donned his work- 
clothes and went into the cellar of the poor house to cut 
UP and pack some pork that had been recently killed. 
While thus engaged, one of that "«>"adjctype of human- 
ity known in our day as "tramp," looked m at the open 
Slar-way, and seeing Mr. Steuben thus at work and 
bJeving him to be an inmate of the institution he 
wa ked in He confided to the superintendent that, as 
:i';as approaching, he would like to find a good 
home until spring, and made inquiries as to the advan 
tages offered along those lines by the poor house. The 
answers he received were not the most assuring, as the 
following extract from the conversation will show. 
"Do they make you work here?" 
"You see what I'm doing. I work every day except 
Sunday, from sunrise to sunset, and often longer. 
"How do they feed you?" 
"None too well." 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 263 

"But say, now, that looks like pretty fine pork you're 
packing; you can't make any complaint about that." 

"Oh, no, not if we get it; but this goes down the 
superintendent's old neck." 

"He gets the best of everything, I suppose?" 

"Well, he gets as good as there is; and the inmates 
take what is given them." 

"Is that so? Well, I'll move on." 

SIMEON FULLER, or Captain, as he was famil- 
iarly called, was born in Bolton, Conn., in 1761, and 
was a son of Lot Fuller who was a direct descendant 
of either Samuel or Edward Fuller, brothers, who 
came over in the Mayflower. Captain Fuller en- 
listed in the revolutionary army at the age of sixteen, 
served three years, and was discharged in the City of 
New York after the war closed. His regiment marched 
into the city with Washington after the British left. 
He was paid off in continental money, and on his way 
home he shot a Dutchman's dog, and it cost him all of his 
three years wages to settle the matter. 

He was with Washington's army when it wintered 
at Morris Plains, N. J., where they suffered as much 
as did the army at Valley Forge. All his clothing 
for the winter consisted of pantaloons and vest — no 
shirt, no coat. His footwear was rags tied around 
his feet. They were on half rations a good part of 
the time. Nothing but Washington's presence and 
influence kept the army together under such priva- 
tions and suffering. He often spoke of Washington 
as the finest looking man in the army, and said he 
would mount his horse with the most ease and grace 
of any man he ever saw. 

Not many years after the war, he removed with 
his father into Sundersfield, Mass., where he married 



2^4 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

his first wife, Mary Cook, in 1785, and by whom he 
had one child, Mary. His wife died m 1788. l^or 
his second wife, he married the widow of Artemas 
Holton— whose maiden name was Wealthy Wood- 
ward—in 1790. Some time after his last marriage, 
he removed with his brother. Lot Fuller, into Wash- 
ington county, N. Y., and purchased a farm, but had 
to leave as he bought of the wrong patentee. He 
then came into Steuben, and took some land on Baron 
Steuben's tract, and moved on his family the follow- 
ing year, 1792. He built a log house, made a root 
of bark, had a blanket for a door; chopped a big stump 
off level on top for a table, laid down a punchion floor 
big enough to put a bed on, and commenced keepmg 

house. ., ^ J. u- 

Four children by his second wife were bom to him. 
Simeon, Jr., Russel, John and Catherine Capt. 
Simeon Fuller died December 7, 1852, and his wife 
Wealthy died February 2, 1845. Mrs. Fuller went 
twice from Steuben into Vermont on horseback to 
visit relatives in that state. In her early childhood 
her father, who lived near New London, Conn, de- 
cided to emigrate to Nova Scotia. He found food 
very scarce there and came back to secure a supply. 
Winter set in and he could not return. The family 
—all small children— were left in a destitute condi- 
tion Indians that could not speak a word of English 
would bring in moose meat and salmon and hang it 
up in the chimney to smoke. In a day or two they 
would come back, take it down and divide it among 
the children. An Indian came in one day with a 
dressed moose skin, and made and gave to each of 
them a pair of moccasins. She never forgot their 
kindness and was always a friend to the Indians. 
After moving into Steuben, large numbers of Oneida 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 265 

Indians would pass her house on their way to the 
Adirondacks to hunt moose and deer, and would 
stop for food and lodging which was never refused 
them. She was a friend to everyone, and when she 
died left none but friends behind. 

Simeon Fuller, Jr., was bom in 1791. He married 
Minerva Sprague, in 1820, and removed to Willoughby, 
Lake county, Ohio. Two sons and one daughter 
were born to them, Russel, George and Louisa. He 
died in 1862, aged seventy years. Russel Fuller was 
born in 1795, married Lydia Potter, and had one son 
and one daughter, Simeon Russel, born in 1821, and 
Mary, born in 1823. 

Simeon R. Fuller married Martha White. The 
children born to him are Clara Cornelia, and Frank 
Russel. Mary Fuller married Henry Stanton in 1853. 
No children. Russel Fuller died in 1856, aged sixty 
years, and his wife in 1879, aged eighty years. John 
Woodward Fuller, third son of Captain Fuller, was 
born in 1797, married Maria Barnes in 1825, and re- 
moved to Alexandria Bay, on the St. Lawrence river. 
His wife died the same year. He afterward married 
Mariette Shurtliff. Six daughters and one son (John) 
were bom to him. Catherine, daughter of Captain 
Fuller was bom in 1800, and married John Pierce 
in 1821. Ten children were born to them — John, 
Lydia A., William, Isaac, Simeon, De Witt, Charles, 
Wealthy, Russel and George. Mary, daughter of Cap- 
tain Fuller by his first wife, married Daniel Douglas 
in 1807, and by whom he had two sons, Alanson and 
George. Alanson died childless. George married Lu- 
cina Ward, and had two sons and a daughter. 

EZRA GREEN was born in Bethlehem, Conn., 
January 30, 1754. In the spring of 1775 he enlisted. 



j(^ HISTORY OF REMSEN 

as a private in Capt. David Hinman's company 
Col. Benjamin Hinman's regiment, and served until 
November. In 1776 he enlisted in Col. Ph.hp Brad- 
ley's regiment, and served six months. In the sum- 
mer of 1777 he served at Peekskill, N. Y., under Capt. 
Enos Hawley, in Colonel Moseley's regiment tor five 
weeks. Also, about April 25, 1777, he went to Dan- 
bury, Conn., under Captain Hawley, where he re- 
mained for a short time. . . v* 
In the spring of 1791 he came to Steuben and bought 
a farm of Baron Steuben, located on the eastern bor- 
der of the Baron's patent, where he built a log house 
about one hundred rods west of *ePOint where the 
turnpike crosses the Cincinnati creek north of Rem- 
s^n village. He returned to Bethlehem and in Octo- 
ber the same year brought on his family After the 
construction of the Black River Turnpike, m ISJA 
he sold his first purchase and bought another farm 
of forty acres, and built a house on the west bank o 
Cincinnati cr;ek north of the Phelps place About 
1823-1824 his son, Eleazer, built a large two-stoiy 
framed house about one hundred rods west ot Mr. 
"s last location, on the west side of the turnpike 
and here Ezra and his wife subsequently made the 
home. He was for many years a justice of the peace 
tor the township of Remsen. He married Amy Church, 
who was one of the earliest members of the Metho- 
dfet denomination in this section, and her house wa. 
aCavs the home of the Methodist circuit riders and 
tinerant preachers who visited here. She was bom 
in Connecticut, July 21, 1759. Their children were 
Clarinda bom November 6, 1777, married Rev. 
Smes Miller; Lucy, bom September 24, 1779, mar- 
ried Amos Wooster; Theron, b°™.A"g"st 25, 1782, 
Betsey, bom May 21, 1784, married Bohan Smith, 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 267 

Urana, born January 23, 1787, married Nathaniel 
Canfield; Selleck, born September 13, 1789, married 
Fanny Fowler; Sally, born July 17, 1791, married 
Harvey Phelps; Charles, bom April 27, 1794, mar- 
ried Electa Perrin; Ezra, Jr., bom October 2, 1797; 
and Eleazer, born May 16, 1800, married Sylvina 
Kent. The three last named were born in Steuben 
township contiguous to Remsen village, while all of 
the others were born in Connecticut. 

EPHRAIM HOLLISTER, the first supervisor of 
the township of Remsen, was a descendant of John 
Hollister, the emigrant to America, an Englishman. 
The Hollisters, if indeed they were not of Anglo-Saxon 
stock, were long settled in England; especially in 
Gloucestershire, Somersetshire and Wiltshire, where 
the name is more common than in other parts. The 
earliest mention of the name is found in the sixth 
year of Queen Elizabeth, when Henry, Lord Berkeley, 
sold the fourth part of his manor in Almondsbury, 
Gloucestershire, to "John Hollister and others." 
John Hollister, ancestor of the American family, is said 
to have been born in England in 1612, and to have 
emigrated to America in 1642. It is supposed that 
he sailed from Bristol. Being of good family and 
educated, he immediately became one of the most 
influential men of Wethersfield and the Connecticut 
colony. In 1658-1659, he was known as "Lieuten- 
ant" Hollister. Nearly all the authorities who speak 
of Lieut. John Hollister of Wethersfield, Conn., say that 
he was at Weymouth, Mass., in 1643, and represented 
that town in the Massachusetts legislature in 1644. 

The wife of John Hollister, the emigrant, was Jo- 
anna Treat. Their children were Elizabeth, who 
married Samuel, son of Thomas Welles, governor of 



268 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

the Connecticut colony, in 1659. John born about 
1644 married Sarah Goodrich, November 20, 1667 
Thei^ son Ephraim, born March 15, 1684 married 
Ehzabeth, daughter of Tobias Green, April 1, 1707, 
and died in Glastonbury, Conn., in 1733. Ephraim 
the third child of Ephraim and Elizabeth (Green) 
Hollister, was born in July, 1724. He afterward 
went to Farmington, Conn., and married first Rachel 
Porter, May 3, 1746, and second, Anna — — -• 

He died in 1804. His second son, Ephraim, who 
located in Remsen, was born October 23, 1748. He 
married first Mrs. Laurana (Canfield) Debell, Decem- 
ber 15 1785. The children by this marriage were 
Rachel' who married Jedediah Foster, and Candice, 
who m'arried Abraham Sage. His children by a sec- 
ond wife were Ephraim, who in an eariy day removed 
to Ashtabula, Ohio, and was living there as late as 
1840; and Sally, who married Judge John Storrs, ol 
Trenton, June 16, 1795. The children of John and 
Sally (Hollister) Storrs, were George W., and Wil- 
liam Samuel, a brother of Ephraim Hollister, the 
Remsen pioneer, was bom in Dalton, Mass. and 
resided in Trenton, where he died o typhoid feve 
A stranger sick of that disease came to Trenton but 
as no one else would receive him, Mr. Hollister hired 
a room and took care of him until his recovery; but 
was taken with the same disease, and died. His 
widow died at Oriskany, N. Y. 

MATTHEW HOYT, son of Ezra and Phoebe Hoji:, 
was born in New Canaan, Conn., May 6, 1741 He 
married first, Mary Lockwood, m January, 1761, ana 
"d Mary Hayes, in April, 1817. Of his daugh- 
ters Mary (Polly) maiTied William Piatt, and Phoebe 
married John Piatt, Jr., brothers. His son Ephraim, 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 269 

born May 1, 1775, married Ann Langford, and came 
here at an early day, living in part of the house with 
his brother-in-law, William Piatt, at the Piatt home- 
stead just over the south line of this township in Tren- 
ton, at the edge of Remsen village, Mr. Hoyt was 
living here at the time the Rev. John Taylor made 
his visit as a missionary in 1802, who in his journal 
gives him the distinction of being the only professing 
Christian in the township of Remsen. His children 
were Matthew, bom here September 18, 1803, mar- 
ried Eliza, daughter of Ephraim Wheeler, December 
20, 1829; Louisa; Clark; Nathaniel; William H., born 
at Trenton Falls, December 18, 1812; Ephraim, born 
in Trenton township November 12, 1814, married 
Frances, daughter of Rev. William B. Brown, of Steu- 
ben, May 8, 1834, and removed to Peoria county, 
111., in 1836; and George Langford, bom here in 1817. 
Ephraim Hoyt removed to Marshall, Henry county, 
111., where he died October 6, 1844. 

STEPHEN HUTCHINSON was one of the earli- 
est and most prominent citizens of Remsen, though 
we have been able to gather but little information 
regarding him. In 1796 he settled on Lot 15 of the 
Service Patent, since known as the "Price Farm," 
about half a mile north of the village. At the first 
town meeting, in 1798, he was elected overseer of the 
poor, and in 1809 he was appointed the first post- 
master. He had three children, Betsy, Emily and 
Gurdon. The family removed from this locality as 
early as 1830, but we have been unable to learn where 
they located. 

NATHANIEL ROCKWOOD was bom in Keene, 
N. H., in 1768. His father removed from New Hamp- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 

shire to Vermont, and later to New York, locating 
at Champion, and young Rockwood came to Remsen 
fbout 1794, taking up a tract of land where he res.ded 
until his death. His farm was about a quarter of a 
mite north of Fairchild Corners, and after bemg m 
ft Rockwood family for nearly sixty yea-- became 
the home of the late Hezek.ah Owen Mr. Rock- 
wood built a log house, and, it was said, brought the 
first load of household goods into the townsh.p. 
Among the necessary and arduous dut.es ot the pio- 
neer settler, was the necessity of gomg to Whites- 
boro mm, and to buy such store supplies as were 
needed Fo lowing blazed trees, the journey was 
made on foot, and f™m Mr Rockwood^ location ^ 
took three days to go and return. Later, after roads 
had been cut through, the jomney was "^ade with 
an ox-team and sled, there being no wheel-vehicles, 
to had the settler possessed such they would have 
been useless for travel over the o-* roads "J that 
day On one of these journeys to Whitesboro, Wlr 
Rockwood chanced to meet a young woman who 
Pleased his fancy; and thereafter we may beheve his 
WpTtherl were more frequent and less irksome, un- 
7he married the -iden, which he e—ly did 
She was Esther Roberts, sister of Seth Roberts, oi 
Romrone of the early lawyer, of Oneida county. 
She died April 1, 1816, aged forty-eight years^ 

Their children were Jehiel, who served in the war 
nf 1812 married Susan Tefft, and both died m Penn- 
sS; "ia, married Henry Williams, both died 
tn Michigan; jihn, married Hannah daughter of 
Srefn White! both died in Michigan; Trjiman, mar- 
ried first Eliza Dayton, and second, Po"y /^f ™' 
and died in Illinois; William, -yarned Jirst^ Mary, 
daughter of Tyler Mitchell, and second, Margaret 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 271 

Kelsey. He died in Trenton township August 28, 
1851, aged forty-five years, his first wife having died 
August 5, 1847, aged thirty-four years. They are 
both buried at Fairchild. By his second wife he had 
one daughter, Mary Catherine Lucretia, who mar- 
ried a Mr. Meredith and removed to Alvardo, John- 
son county, Texas. Margaret (Kelsey) Rockwood 
also moved to Texas, with her daughter, and died 
there. Reuben married Marietta, daughter of Oli- 
ver Bill, brother of Dr. Earl Bill; Fenner, married 
Polly, daughter of Perez Farr, and both died in Boon- 
ville; and Nathaniel, Jr., married Eveline, daughter 
of Calvin Allen, of Remsen, and died at Union City, 
Pa., in 1869. After the death of his first wife Nath- 
aniel Rockwood, Sr., married Mrs. Sally Williams, a 
widow with three children — Henry and Jerry Wil- 
liams, and a daughter. Mrs. Rockwood died August 
26, 1828, aged fifty-nine years. After the death of 
his second wife, he married Mrs. Sally Morgan, by 
whom he had one daughter, Mary Jane, who married 
Calvin Winthrop Allen, and removed to Union City, 
Pa. The last wife of Mr. Rockwood also moved to 
Pennsylvania with her daughter, and died there in 
1866. Mr. Rockwood died April 26, 1844, aged seventy- 
six years, and is buried in Fairchild Cemetery. It 
is said that he dug the first grave in that cemetery, 
and was its sexton until his sons were grown, when they 
successively acted in that capacity until the youngest 
moved away, in 1854. Mr. Rockwood was reputed 
"a devout Christian, a kind father, a good neighbor — 
ever ready to help in time of need, and a highly re- 
spected citizen." 

CAPT. JOHN KENT was among the very early set- 
tlers in Remsen, coming from Southwick, Mass. His 



IHS'I'ORY OF RKMSF.N 
272 

wife, Grace, bom in Southwick July 31 1751, was 
rdiughter of John and Anna (Loomjs) Root. Mr 
KenTwas a soldier of the revolution, havmg enhs ed 
ttiree times; the last time to serve three years but the 
wlr closed before the expiration of the time o ^s enhs^ 
ment. Broughton W. Green is authority for the state 
ment that the first marriage in Remsen was that of a 
"aughter of Mr. Kent; and also that he kept h first 
hotel in the township. He died here m 1795 or 96. 

JONAH DAYTON, one of the pioneers of Remsen, 
wi a revolutionary soldier and -■™.'l *™%f,f ™ ■*' 
commissary department. He ^^^-^'f ^arto S^^^^^ 
and one of their descendants owns and resides on a part 
ofthe ta°m settled by them. Mr. Dayton died April 
30, I837! and his wife March 22, 1838. Both are buried 
on' the farm where they hved. 

SILAS KENT, SR., bora in Southwick Mass Feb- 
ruarv 5 1778, came to Remsen before 1800, and was 
ZXd' here March 25^ IBOl. Hi. wife, Anms wa. 



married nere iviaicn ^u, — -• . vt„,„ Milfnrrt Oc- 
also a native of Connecticut, born m New M dfo^^. "f 
tober 1 1782. He died here February 17, 1813, agea 
h^y-five years, and his widow survived him until June 
17, 1864, dying at the age of «ihty-one year. Their 

children were Chester, b°™ ,Jf "f ''J' f ^^^^^a re^ 
horn March 1, 1803, married Norman BrainarO, re 
moved to Oakland county, Mich.; John, born Novem- 
ber 7, 1804, removed to Chautauqua county, N^V^, 
died April 13, 1873; Sylvina, born July 27, 1806, mar 
rted Ekazer Green and removed to Harmony, N.Y 
Silas Jr bom July 7, 1808, a successful farmer died 
» 27, 1896; and Annis (Mrs. Sage), bom May 6, 
1812, removed to Fauquier county, Va. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 273 

JOHN STEBBINS, a revolutionary soldier and pen- 
sioner, was among the early settlers, living for many 
years at the north end of the village. Of his children, 
Lucy married Selden Johnson ; Margaret married Henry 
Thompson, who was agent for the Remsen estate, and 
lived on the Lewis Francis farm upon the hill north of 
the village; and John married Susan Gay, of Ninety 
Six. When very old Mr. Stebbins sold his home in the 
village, and with his wife went to live with his son, who 
lived on the State road north of the Jerome Witherell 
place. Silas Fowler then moved into the Stebbins house, 
which later became the home of the late John R. Jones. 

JUDSON WITHERELL, SR., came here a child 
about 1798, from Fort Ann, Washington county, with 
his mother and step-father. Consider Bard well. He 
married Abbie, daughter of Thomas Nichols, and their 
children were Jerome, who married Sarah, daughter of 
Milo Mitchell; Abbie, who married Robert R. Roberts; 
and Judson, Jr., who married Ellen Jones. 

JAMES SHELDON was born in Providence, R. L, 
and came to Oneida county in 1795, residing for a time 
at New Hartford and Whitesboro, where he was a justice 
of the peace. Prior to 1800 he removed with his family 
to Remsen township, where he built the stone house that 
stands about three miles northeast of the village, and 
which for a long time was used as a tavern. This place 
was owned for many years by William L. Williams, 
father of George Williams of Remsen. In December, 
1798, John Brown, once governor of Rhode Island, a 
wealthy merchant of Providence, who also had business 
interests in Philadelphia, became the owner of 210,000 
acres of land embraced in the eastern part of what is 
now Lewis county and portions of the northern part of 



274 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Herkimer and Hamilton counties; this tract being a 
part of 1,920,000 acres of land granted to Alexander 
Macomb, by letters patent dated January 10, 1702. Mr. 
Brown believed that there was a great fortune in his 
wilderness possession, and immediately began to make 
improvements there. Considerable land was cleared, 
three roads were laid out — one from Remsen, one from 
Boonville and another from Lyons Falls. His purchase 
was divided into eight townships. He built a furnace 
and a saw-mill at or near Old Forge, and prospected for 
iron ore. 

Mr. Sheldon had charge of Mr. Brown's business in 
the wilderness, and under him much labor was expended 
in clearing land, opening roads, planting crops, and ar- 
ranging for buying tools and implements for the set- 
tlers, potash kettles for the manufacture of potash, and 
so forth. He was empowered to sell quarter-section 
plots of land, or one hundred and sixty acres, for two 
dollars and fifty cents an acre, to be paid in cash in seven 
annual payments, first two years without interest; or in 
wheat on the tract at one dollar a bushel, com at three 
shillings, and good rye at fifty cents a bushel. 

In 1812, Charles Hereshoff, a son-in-law of Governor 
Brown, formed the project of establishing a sheep farm 
on what he called the "Manor," made a clearing and 
put on a flock of sheep. Afterward he opened a mine 
and built a forge. But his enterprises proved failures, 
and discouraged over his losses, Mr. Hereshoff commit- 
ted suicide December 19, 1819. He was buried in the 
old village cemetery at Boonville, and upon the removal 
of the bodies from that cemetery to make room for the 
R., W. & 0. depot when it was removed from the upper 
part of the village to its present location, about 1866, 
the remains of Mr. Hereshoff were exhumed and shipped 
to Providence. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 275 

Abigail, daughter of James Sheldon, married Maj. 
Andrew Billings, for many years a merchant and prom- 
inent citizen of Remsen. Another daughter married 
Ela Merriam, of Lyons Falls, N. Y. Mr. Sheldon's son 
Henry lived on the homestead and was prominent in the 
affairs of the township. James Sheldon died June 18, 
1819, aged sixty-two years; and his widow, Mary, died 
September 2, 1845, aged eighty-four years. 

GERSHOM HINCKLEY, born in Stonington, 
Conn., August 28, 1763, was descended in the sixth 
generation from Samuel Hinckley, of Tenterden, 
Kent county, England, who emigrated with his family 
to America in the ship "Hercules," in the early spring 
of 1635. He settled at Scituate, in the Province of 
Massachusetts Bay, where he remained until 1639, 
when he removed to Barnstable, being one of the first 
settlers there. He died in that part of Barnstable 
called Great Marshes, now West Barnstable, October 
31, 1662. The line of descent from Samuel Hinckley 
— who is said to have been the progenitor in America 
of all bearing this surname — to Gershom Hinckley, a 
pioneer of Remsen township, is as follows: Thomas, John, 
Samuel, John and Gershom. The latter, a son of John 
and Elizabeth (Breed) Hinckley, was bom September 4, 
1730. He married Catherine Wightman, of Norwich, 
Conn., and removed to Pittstown, Renssalaer county, 
N. Y., in 1768, and thence to Rome, N. Y. Gershom, 
son of Gershom and Catherine (Wightman) Hinckley, 
came to Pittstown with his father's family, and, in 1789, 
married Prudence, daughter of Caleb Tennant, of Glas- 
tonbury, Conn., born August 8, 1770. He had served 
for a time in the revolutionary war. 

Within a few years after their marriage, Mr. and 
Mrs. Hinckley moved to Remsen, settling at what 



276 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

was later known as Fairchild Comers as early as 1793 
or 1794, He was the resident agent here of Henry 
Remsen, of New York city, proprietor of the Remsen- 
burgh Patent, and being a land surveyor by profes- 
sion, laid out the township into lots, and opened many 
of the earlier highways in the township. He was 
elected supervisor in 1799, which office he filled for 
ten years, and also was a justice of the peace for many 
years. He was an active member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and at one time was master of Rising Sun 
Lodge, before its removal to this place, when its meet- 
ings were held in Trenton. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hinck- 
ley were members of the Baptist Society of East Rem- 
sen, which was organized in 1809, and are said to have 
been "earnest Christian workers in the church." Their 
children were Daniel W., bom February 11, 1790, 
died in infancy; John, bom January 17, 1791, married 
Rhoda Ball, and removed to Silver Creek, Mich.; 
Anna, bom February 7, 1793, married first, French 
Fairchild, second, Zebina Ball, and third, Jacob Staf- 
ford; Caleb, bom October 20, 1794, died in infancy; 
Catherine, bom January 15, 1798, married Milo 
Mitchell, of Remsen, in 1819, and died January 11, 
1829; Harriet, bom May 19, 1801, married Evert 
Dyckman; Daniel, 2d., bom November 30, 1803; 
Henry R., born July 20, 1805; Hiram, bom June 10, 
1807, married Sarah M. Smith; Tennant, bom January 
13, 1810, married Malonia Stiles; Stephen, bom March 
29, 1814, married Emily Sears, of Schroeppell, N. Y.; 
and Moses, born January 20, 1812, married Maria 
Van Alstyne. 

In 1819 Mr. Hinckley removed to the township of 
Salina, Onondaga county, bought a farm on Seneca 
river, about three miles north of the village of Liver- 
pool, where he died February 20, 1848. His widow 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 277 

died there April 3, 1852. Both are buried in the Liv- 
erpool cemetery. 

DR. EARL BILL was descended in the sixth gen- 
eration from John and Dorothy Bill, who came to 
this country some time prior to 1635, and settled at 
Boston, Mass. The family was English, and of an- 
cient origin, being traceable in one county — that of 
Shropshire — for five hundred years. The name is 
also found in Wiltshire, Kent, Herefordshire, York- 
shire and Staffordshire, and also in London, Birming- 
ham, Manchester and other towns. 

Of those of the same name who attained eminence 
in the old country were Dr. Thomas Bill (1490-1551), 
a graduate of the University of Parma, in Italy, one 
of the physicians to Henry VIII and Edward VI; Wil- 
liam Bill, D. D., L.L. D. (1505-1561) Master of St. 
John's College, Vice Chancellor of the University, 
Master of Trinity College, one of the King's Chap- 
lains in ordinary. Fellow and Provost of Eton College, 
and first Dean of Westminster, in which Abbey, in 
the chapel of St. Benedict, his body is buried; and 
John Bill, Publisher, or "King's Printer" to James I. 

Though originally settled in Boston, the family is 
properly a Connecticut one rather than Massachu- 
setts, for about 1669 Philip, the son of the original 
John the immigrant removed to Connecticut, to "Pe- 
quot, on the Little Fresh River," which was the name 
first given to the Thames; and in Connecticut, at 
Lebanon, the subject of this sketch was born, No- 
vember 5, 1770, the eldest son of Oliver, (James, 
John, Philip, John) and Martha (Skinner) Bill, the 
family having been resident in that state during all 
of the intervening time. And it is Connecticut that 
to-day may be said to be the American home of the 



278 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

family, which still has numerous representatives 
clustered about the banks of the Thames and the 
country originally settled by Philip. 

Dr. Bill was thrice married, first, in 1804, to Sarah 
Jackson, a daughter of a revolutionary officer, Lieu- 
tenant Jackson. She died February 14, 1819, aged 
thirty-eight years. In 1820 he married Olive Baker, 
a widow, who died November 4, 1822, aged thirty 
years. His third wife was Susan Johnson, whom he 
mamed in 1824, and who died in 1864. He was 
graduated from the Berkshire Medical School, in 
Massachusetts, and after finishing his course in that 
institution, pushed for what was known at that time 
as "The West," settling in the township of Steuben. 
The country was of course new, and for the young 
physician to have cast his lot in that then distant 
settlement, was at least evidence of enterprise and 
courage in commencing his professional life. 

In 1814 he removed to the village of Remsen, 
situated about four miles from his former residence, 
now known as Starr's Hill. Here he remained for 
many years, practicing his profession, always enjoy- 
ing the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens of 
all classes. Not until he had reached the advanced 
age of eighty-six years did he relinquish the profes- 
sion which he had adorned for more than half a cen- 
tury, and in the discharge of the duties of which he 
had endeared himself to at least two generations by 
his kindness, self denial and medical skill. He died 
in the family of his son General Horace Bill, at Cleve- 
land, Ohio, on May 16, 1864, and was buried at Oak- 
land Cemetery, Sandusky, Ohio. 

Dr. Bill was in some respects a peculiar character. 
He was a practical philosopher, never bon'owing 
trouble, and always bearing himself with an habitual 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 279 

calmness and cheerfulness. He was a true and sin- 
cere Christian, as well in deportment as in profession ; 
naturally of a quiet and forgiving spirit, he seldom 
had any differences with those around him. One of 
his sons wrote of him that his recollection of his father 
extended over nearly half a century, and yet he never 
saw him angered but once, and then the provocation 
was very great. This is saying much, but his life 
testified to its truthfulness. 

Of Dr, Bill's children, Henry J., Cyrus S,, Charles 
0., Chauncey C, and Earl were born in Steuben; 
Horace N., Sarah M. and Susan J. were born at Rem- 
sen. Henry J. died at Unionville, N. Y., in 1832. 
Cyrus S. resided at Turin, in Lewis county, where he 
carried on the business of tanning for many years. 
He died in 1883. Charles 0., who was educated as 
a physician, was accidentally drowned at Trenton 
Falls, in 1830. He was regarded as very promising, 
and his sudden death was a great affliction to his 
father who had looked forward to the professional 
companionship and aid of his son. 

Chauncey C, for several years subsequent to 1835, 
published the "Vernon Courier," and was postmaster 
at Vernon under President Taylor's administration. 
In 1855, he removed to Sandusky, Ohio, where for 
several years he published the "Sandusky Commercial 
Register," He died in 1877, 

Earl removed to Ohio when a young man, and filled 
various public offices in that state, serving successively 
as sheriff and treasurer of Erie county, and represent- 
ing the counties of Erie and Huron in the state senate. 
He was also associated with his brother Chauncey, 
as one of the editors of the Sandusky "Register," 
In 1861 he was appointed by President Lincoln U, S, 
Marshal for the northern district of Ohio, with head- 



28o HISTORY OF REMSEN 

quarters at Cleveland, where he resided until his 
death in 1885, and where for many years during the 
latter part of his life he was clerk of the U. S. Dis- 
trict and Circuit Courts. Horace N. was in his early 
manhood prominent in the political life of Oneida 
county. He too removed to Ohio, where he served 
as Clerk of Erie county. In 1860 he was appointed 
by Governor Dennison a brigadier general of mili- 
tia, and as an officer in command of the state forces 
was in charge of Camp Jefferson, near the Virginia 
line, until the time of its discontinuance. He also 
served as U. S. Deputy Marshal under his brother 
Earl. His death occurred in 1878. Dr. Bill's last 
surviving child, a daughter, Sarah M., was the wife 
of George Putnam, a life long resident and public- 
spirited citizen of Waterville, N. Y. His youngest 
child, Susan J., married Orlo Damon, of Waterville, 
N. Y., and died there in 1849. 

AGUR FAIRCHILD was born in Connecticut, 
married there, and before 1800 came to Remsen town- 
ship and located in that section called "Fairchild 
Corners," or "Fairchild," about two miles northeast 
of the village. His children were Diana, Betsy, 
Martha, Barbara, Charlotte, Ingersoll, French, and 
Samuel. The first two named never lived in Remsen. 
Mr. Fairchild died here January 1, 1840, aged ninety 
years; and Amy, his wife, died April 17, 1839, aged 
eighty-five years. French Fairchild married Anna, 
daughter of Gershom Hinckley. They had two sons, 
Rev. Gershom Fairchild, a Wesleyan minister, bom 
in Remsen in 1809, and as late as 1896 living at Nan- 
kin, Wayne county, Mich.; and French Fairchild, Jr., 
who married Mary Tanner, of Deerfield, N. Y., by 
whom he had six sons and one daughter. He removed 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 281 

to Liverpool, N. Y., was a successful farmer, and 
died there. Ingersoll Fairchild removed to western 
New York before 1820. Samuel, married Eleanor, 
daughter of William R. Roberts, of Remsen, and re- 
moved with his family to Monoa county, Iowa, where 
he died about 1866. 

PEREZ FARR was one of the pioneers and came 
from one of the eastern states, though we have been 
able to learn but little concerning him. His children 
were Sarah, who married Gilbert Franklin; Maria, 
who married William Gay; Polly, who married Fenner 
Rockwood; Dolly, wife of Harry Franklin; and Jo- 
seph, who never married. 

AMOS BULL was one of the earliest settlers in 
Remsen. He was a native of Connecticut, and a 
revolutionary soldier. His paternal ancestor, Capt. 
Thomas Bull, must have been in Connecticut as early 
as 1636, for he embarked from England in the "Hope- 
well," Thomas Babb, master, September 11, 1635, 
and became one of the early settlers of Hartford. 
He was prominent in the early history of the colony, 
did valiant military service, is said to have been fa- 
miliar with the Indian language, and was accounted 
a brave soldier. Born in 1606, he died in 1684, and 
his wife, Susan, died in 1680, aged seventy-four years. 
Their sixth son, Capt. Joseph Bull, a mariner, also 
settled in Hartford, and died in 1712. Of his chil- 
dren, Daniel, born in 1677, married Mary Mygatt, 
and was killed by a fall from his horse. Daniel's 
seventh son was Amos Bull, the Remsen pioneer. 
The exact date of his settlement here is not known; 
but a former history says "about the time that Barna- 
bas Mitchell and others came," which would make it 



282 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

not later than 1793. He located on what was known 
for many years as "Bull's Commons," not far from 
the farm of the late Milo Mitchell. This tract he 
cleared himself, and it was later known as the "Camp 
Farm." He married Mehitable Cooley, who was 
bom in Lyme, Conn., and they lived in Hartford, for 
they came from that city to Remsen. We have been 
unable to ascertain whether they had children; but 
about 1813, when Mr. Bull was a very old man, they 
adopted Rebecca, infant daughter of Joseph and Re- 
becca (Slawson) Halstead. Mr. Bull became totally 
blind before he left Remsen, which was about 1820, 
when he removed to Rome, N. Y., where he died. The 
widow, with her adopted daughter who married a Mr. 
Allison, removed to Union City, Pa. 

EBENEZER WEEKS was bom in Pomfret, Conn., 
August 5, 1741. He married in New London, Conn., 
February 2, 1762, Eunice, youngest daughter of Rev. 
George and Elizabeth (Lee) Griswold, of Lyme, Conn., 
bom February 1, 1742. They removed to Brooklyn, 
Conn., in 1777, and came to Steuben in 1791, locating 
on a farm south of and nearly opposite Ty Coch, 
about two miles west of Remsen village. Here his 
wife died October 6, 1792, and in 1797 he married 
Olive, daughter of Sampson Keyes, of Ashford, Conn. 
The cellar dug and walled by Mr. Weeks and his son 
Ebenezer is still in use, though the old house has 
been replaced by another. He held the office of jus- 
tice of the peace, and was familiarly known as "Squire" 
Weeks. Frequently he acted as arbitrator for his 
neighbors, who came into the habit of referring their 
disputes to him preferably to going to law. Though 
not a member of any church, he was much interested 
in church and school matters in the township. His 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 283 

children were Elizabeth, Anna, Eunice, Joseph, Han- 
nah, Ebenezer, David Jewitt, Eunice, 2d, Joseph 
Holland, George Griswold, Hannah, 2d, and Wil- 
liam Raymond. He died in Steuben July 6, 1813, 
and his widow died in Vermont in 1817. The graves 
of Mr. Weeks and his first wife, also of their son, Eben- 
ezer, are on the farm a short distance from the house. 

David Jewitt Weeks, son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth 
(Griswold) Weeks, was born in Brooklyn, Conn., 
August 8, 1787. January 2, 1814, he married in 
Steuben, Elizabeth, born in Hartford, Conn., August 
6, 1795, daughter of Samuel and Mary Marsh. He 
was a farmer, but in 1834 was ordained a Congre- 
gational minister, and preached in Smyrna, Martins- 
burg, Western, Trenton and other places. He died De- 
cember 9, 1845; and his widow June 17, 1861. They had 
removed from Steuben many years before their death. 

Joseph Holland Weeks, son of Ebenezer and Eliza- 
beth (Griswold) Weeks, was born in Lyme, Conn., 
May 8, 1776. On December 10, 1800, he married in 
Steuben, Mary Griffiths, who was born in Carnarvon- 
shire, Wales, January 7, 1780, and came to America 
in 1794. Mr. Weeks served in the war of 1812, and 
removed to Granville, Licking county, Ohio, in 1815. 
The family of seven made the journey in a two-horse 
wagon, being five weeks on the way. He died Jan- 
uary 1, 1860, and Mrs. Weeks died June 9, 1864, at 
Sandusky, Ohio. Their son, Robert Eleazer, was 
born in Steuben December 24, 1812. 

Silas Rockwood Weeks, born in 1765, married in 
1797, Rebecca Hewitt, who was born November 13, 
1775. He was in Steuben prior to 1798, and removed 
to Watertown and thence to Remsen. He was a 
land surveyor and farmer, and is said to have been 
noted for his great physical strength. He removed 



284 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

to Lima, Ohio, where he died in 1836. His son, Asa, 
was born in Steuben October 13, 1798, and married 
Clarissa Hall, February 1, 1824. He was a cooper 
and farmer and died in Remsen May 26, 1844. An- 
other son, Cephas Franklin, a carriage and wagon- 
maker, was born in Remsen November 13, 1838, and 
married Amelia Westcott. Silas Rockwood Weeks, 
2d, was born in Remsen December 29, 1810, served 
in the Mexican war, and died in September, 1849. 

BROUGHTON WHITE was bom at South Hadley, 
Mass., November 28, 1773. He came to Steuben 
township with Baron Steuben, and until the latter's 
death was a member of his household. He married 
Susan Johnson, and their children were Albert, Thomas 
Broughton, Susan, William, Henry, Hannah, Mary 
Ann and George. Mr. White was a surveyor by profes- 
sion, and for many years served as a justice of the peace. 
Coming to Remsen in 1803, he opened the first store; 
taught school, engaged in farming and in various business 
enterprises here for more than fifty years. He died 
June 21, 1863. 

JAMES SMITH, a pioneer and early inn-keeper 
of Remsen village, had one daughter, Betsy, and 
three sons that we have knowledge of, namely: Joab, 
who died at Sacket Harbor in 1812; Oliver; and Car- 
los, who married Betsy, daughter of Joseph Halstead. 
Mr. Smith died July 30, 1812, aged seventy-eight 
years. 

JESSE MORGAN settled at Fairchild before 1800. 
He had a family of thirteen children, as follows: Sally, 
Whitman, Ambrose, Ira, Jesse, Lucy, Hannah, Amanda, 
Olivia, Elias, Zenus, Samantha, and Abigail. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 285 

REV. JOSEPH MONTAGUE was born in Granby, 
Mass., October 2, 1763, He graduated at Dartmouth 
College in 1788, and it is recorded that here he was 
"distinguished for his brilliancy as a scholar and re- 
finement of manners." He spent considerable of his 
life in teaching, and was a very popular instructor. 
He taught in a young ladies seminary in New Jersey, 
and afterward was principal of a similar institution 
at Kinderhook, N. Y., and at other places. He was 
also for a time engaged in business as agent for, or 
associated with Aaron Burr and DeWitt Clinton in 
land speculations in western New York. He bought 
a farm of Baron Steuben near Sixty Acres, which he 
occupied for many years. He married Mary, daugh- 
ter of Jesse Brush, born at Huntington, L. I., a cousin 
of former Mayor Brush of Brooklyn. She is said to 
have been a woman of great strength of character, 
refinement and culture. Their children were Jo- 
seph Henry, born in Steuben, November 6, 1806; 
Mary Ann, born September 12, 1808; and Sarah 
Elizabeth, born September 11, 1810. Mr. Montague 
died at the home of his son, in Remsen, April 30, 
1849. Joseph Henry Montague, became a land sur- 
veyor, and married Lucy Ann Crosby, born in Cohoc- 
ton, N. Y., July 19, 1821. He died in Remsen April 
7, 1867. Their children, all born in Remsen , were 
Isabel, born June 22, 1843; Lucy Ann, born July 22, 
1846, married Henry Miller, of Steuben; and Wallace 
Henry, born May 11, 1851. The latter left school at fif- 
teen, on account of the death of his father, and started 
out in life for himself. He gained an education unaided, 
except for some private instructions in German and 
medicine. He was for a time engaged in mining in 
Colorado, but for many years has been an official of 
the Pacific Express Company, at Kansas City, Mo. 



286 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

FILKINS BEADLE lived on the Joshua G. Jones 
farm, about a mile and a half south of Remsen. His 
wife was a daughter of William Frazier, a Scotchman, 
and a sister of the late Alexander Frazier, of Trenton 
village. The parents of Filkins Beadle lived near 
the present site of the Prospect depot of the R. W. & 
0. railroad, but, when old, came to live with the son, 
and died at his home. They were probably buried 
on the place, where there are many graves, some 
marked and many others that never had a permanent 
marker. A son of Filkins Beadle, Filkins Beadle, Jr., 
is buried there, who died January 15, 1807, aged 
twenty-one years; also a child, Daniel Beadle, who 
died May 3, 1807, aged two years. Other children 
of Mr. Beadle were Chrisjane, wife of Joseph Jones, 
who died some years since in Toledo, O., leaving two 
daughters, Helen and Alice, now deceased; Harriet, 
who lived in Whitesboro, and Ellen, who mamed 
Lewis Powell, and removed to Schoharie, N. Y. There 
were other children whose names are unknown to us. 

JOSEPH HALSTEAD, an early resident of Remsen, 
was born in Connecticut July 8, 1777, married Re- 
becca Slawson December 25, 1796, and came here 
from Hartford. Their children were born as follows: 
Stephen, October 28, 1797, never married; Elizabeth, 
October 18, 1799, married Carlos Smith; Catherine, 
February 11, 1802, married a Mr. Gager and removed 
to Massachusetts; Judson, June 4, 1804, died May 
23, 1826; Hannah, April 19, 1807; and Rebecca, March 
9, 1813. Mrs. Halstead died March 26, 1813, and 
their infant daughter, then little less than a month 
old, was adopted by the pioneer, Amos Bull. She 
married a Mr. Allison and removed to Union City, 
Pa., and died there, having attained the age of nearly 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 287 

ninety years. Mr, Halstead married second, Ber- 
nice (Throop) Potter, widow of Robert G. Potter, of 
Remsen, August 20, 1818, by whom he had one child, 
Susan Helen Margaret, born October 16, 1820. After 
leaving Remsen village, Mr. Halstead kept an inn, or 
half-way house for travelers and teamsters about 
two miles south of Remsen, at the place afterward 
owned by the late Jonathan Jones, and more recently 
by William Meth Jones. His son, Stephen S., was a 
cattle-buyer and drover, early removed to Orange 
county, N. Y., and died there. Judson, another son, 
a peddler, died from the effects of a kick of one of his 
horses, and was buried in Fairchild cemetery. The 
Mr. Gager who married Catherine Halstead, once 
kept the upper hotel in Remsen, and later removed 
to Massachusetts. Hannah married John Smith, 
who also kept the same hotel. Mrs. Smith lived 
only a few years after her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. 
Halstead removed to Troy, N. Y., where some of the 
family had preceded them and where they both died. 

GREEN WHITE was a noted character here dur- 
ing pioneer times. He was by nature a rover, and 
therefore became well-known in every settlement 
throughout a wide section of the northern wilderness. 
He was accounted a great hunter and trapper, and 
some vested him with the title of "Indian Killer." 
Whether this appellation was merited or not, is un- 
known at this time; but it is represented that he cer- 
tainly had little love for the Indian race. 

Where White originally came from we have been 
unable to learn. The earliest account we have of him 
locates him at Bardwell, where he was among the 
early settlers. One of his daughters married John 
Bronson, of Ninety Six; another daughter married 



288 HISTORY' OF RKMSEN 

and emigrated to the west, and with her husband, it 
is said, joined the Mormon sect; while still another 
daughter, Hannah, married John Rockwood, son of 
Nathaniel Rockwood, Sr., and removed to Michigan. 
White was one of ten men who availed themselves of 
an offer by Silas Thomas, agent in charge of "John 
Brown's Tract" in 1841, to settle Township No. 7 
of the John Brown estate. As an inducement to 
settlers, the first ten families to locate there and re- 
main two years were each to receive title to one hun- 
dred and sixty acres of land, a cow and ten sheep. 
Among the ten families thus gotten together were 
those of Silas Thomas and his two sons, Lewis and 
Isaac; Caleb Sweet; Ephraim Justin, of Boonville; 
Green White; Robert Prichard, a blacksmith; and 
Robert Roberts (Y Gof) of Steuben, brother of Dr. 
Daniel Roberts. 

The following incident concerning Green White 
was related by the late Didymus Thomas: "Green 
White and John Bonner, once on a hunting tour had 
a falling out which resulted in a fight. White being 
small in stature, but quick and nimble, for a time 
pelted Bonner rather uncomfortably; but Bonner 
finally getting hold of him, and being a large, powerful 
man, and good-natured, as strong men generally are, 
crushed him to the earth and there held him. Finally 
White, when he saw there was no chance for him, 
said: 'Bonner, what's the use to fight? There's no 
one to see who whips!' Bonner at once released him 
and they were good friends again." 

White's life came to a tragic end, concerning which 
there are two versions: one is that while on a hunting- 
trip he camped one night, building a fire against a 
dead and partially decayed tree stub, beside which he 
laid down to sleep. During the night, the fire ate 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 289 

its way through the base of the barren stub, causing 
it to topple and fall across White as he lay, breaking 
his legs and pinioning him to the ground. In this 
plight he was found, and was taken to Hawkinsville, 
where he soon after died. Another account says 
that while on his farm in Brown's Tract he went into 
the woods to watch some men who were felling trees, 
and that while sitting with a young man upon a log 
not far from the choppers a tree fell towards them. 
The young man threw himself backward over the log 
and thus escaped injury; but White for some reason 
failed to protect himself in this manner, and the tree 
fell upon him breaking his legs. His companions 
carried him twenty miles on a stretcher to Boonville, 
where he died. 

OWEN GRIFFITHS, one of the pioneers of Welsh 
birth who located in Steuben in 1795, came from 
Carnarvonshire, North Wales. He made a clear- 
ing and built a log house just north of the place owned 
by the late Dr. Everett, and a few years later built a 
store and dwelling combined on the east corner of 
that road and the one leading from Remsen to Sixty 
Acres. This building was painted yellow, and it was 
always known as "Store Felen" (Yellow Store). In 
this immediate neighborhood was the nucleus of 
the Welsh colony that settled here in 1795, and for 
many years Store Felen was the common meeting- 
place for social chats by the men of that nationality 
who were more distantly located, while passing to and 
fro between their homes and Remsen; and here the 
youth, with inherited physical hardiness from an 
interminable line of sturdy British ancestors, com- 
peted with one another in the athletic sports of the 
time. Mr. Griffiths' first wife was named Anne, by 



290 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

whom he had five children: Griffith 0.; Lydia, who 
married Lewis P. Lewis; Elizabeth, who married Rich- 
ard W. Jones; Cornelius; and Josiah. Mrs Griffiths 
died January 12, 1815, aged forty-five years; and by 
a second wife he had two sons, Owen and Titus. Grif- 
fith 0. Griffiths married Margaret, daughter of Capt. 
William Williams another Welsh pioneer. Children: 
Ann, wife of Morgan Owen; Mary; Lydia, who married 
Evan Charles; Rebecca, who married James P. Owen; 
George, who served in Company A. 14th Regt. N. Y. 
S. Vols., and was killed at the battle of Fair Oaks, 
Va.; Matthew Henry; S. Amelia; and Margaret. 
He married second, Mary, widow of Richard H. Jones, 
of Steuben. He died April 17, 1875. Cornelius 
married Jane, daughter of William R. Roberts, and 
their children were William, Mary Ann, James, Brisco, 
Henrietta and George. Josiah married Elizabeth 
Colegrove, and their children were Elizabeth, Helen, 
Fanny, Milton, George, Frederick, and Rosa May. 

GRIFFITH ROWLAND, another of Steuben's 
pioneer Welshmen, settled on part of Lot 151 of the 
Steuben Patent, consisting of the north half and the 
southwest quarter of the lot, which he held under 
perpetual lease from Baron Steuben to John Piatt, 
Sr., who assigned to Griffith Rowland. 

EVAN OWEN, we find, was among the early Welsh 
settlers in Steuben, though we have been unable to 
learn anything about him. A lease for land in that 
township from Baron Steuben to John Piatt, Sr., 
was transferred March 21, 1796, to Evan Owen, Owen 
Griffiths and Griffith Rowland; and on September 
9, 1799, Evan Owen's interest in the same was as- 
signed to Griffith Rowland. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 291 

EVAN GRIFFITHS (Ty Coch) came from Llanor, 
North Wales, in 1795. He settled at Ty Coch Cor- 
ners, and in time built a framed house and painted it 
red, hence the name "Ty Coch," or Red House. Un- 
til very recent years the house at this place was al- 
ways painted that color and the name Ty Coch re- 
tained. Mr. Griffiths' first wife was Margaret (Peggy), 
daughter of John Parry, who died within a few years 
after their arrival here, and is buried on the lot at Ty 
Coch, only a few rods from the house. For many 
years the grave was enclosed with a picket fence. Mr. 
Griffiths' second wife was also a daughter of John 
Parry. 

CONSIDER BARDWELL, son of Ebenezer Bard- 
well, of Whately, Fort Ann township, Washington 
county, N. Y., came from Fort Ann to Remsen about 
1798, and located at what was later known as Bard- 
welltown. His children, all born in Remsen township 
were: Cynthia Conklin, born December 28, 1803, 
married James Hooper and removed to Wampsville, 
N. Y.; Eliza, born September 7, 1804, married a Mr. 
Dart; Harriet Ann, born October 16, 1810, married 
Philip Roberts, and removed south of Oneida Lake; 
Mary Maria, born September 22, 1812, married Ray- 
mond Hall; David A., born June 1, 1815; Jeanette, 
born December 16, 1817; and Elias, born January 
14, 1820, married Margaret Ausman. David married 
first a Miss Dayton; second, Elizabeth Owens, by 
whom he had three children, Morgan 0., Susan, who 
married Owen Richards; and Clinton, who died in 
infancy. He married third, Ann Van Tanyo; fourth, 
Mary Jane Bronson; and fifth, Charlotte Dickinson. 



292 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

WILLIAM P. JONES, son of John Parry,* came 
from Brynhynog Bach, Wales, in 1797 or 1798. He 
located first a little north of Ty Coch Comers, but 
later took up a farm on Pen-y-mynydd. After he had 
made a clearing and put up peiTnanent buildings, his 
barn which stood on the summit of Pen-y-mynydd was 
a landmark, conspicuous for many miles. Mr. Jones 
was the father of the late Thomas P., Henry P., Humph- 
rey and John P. Jones, well-known and respected 
citizens of Remsen township for many years; and of 
Ellen, wife of Thomas Thomas (Terytan), who lived 
near the old Steuben station of the R. W. & O. rail- 
road. Henry, a son of Thomas Thomas was a veteran 
of the civil war, and for many years lieutenant of 
police in Detroit, Mich. About 1870, Henry P. Jones 
removed with his family to Iowa, where he died soon 
after. Thomas P. Jones died in Remsen, February 6, 
1879, aged seventy-three years. 

BOHAN SMITH was bom about 1779, and came 
to Remsen with his father's family in 1796. He mar- 
ried Betsy, daughter of Ezra and Amy (Church) Green. 
Their children were Hanora, born August 31, 1808, 
married Evan Owens; Urana, bom August 10, 1810, 
married Lyman Mitchell; James Carlos, bom Novem- 
ber 17, 1812; Alsamena Rogers, born August 9, 1815, 
married John Owens, of Remsen; and Lucy Wooster, 
bom March 6, 1818, mamed Francis Welles. When 
a young man Mr. Smith located at Fairchild and be- 
came one of the most prosperous farmers of the 
township. He died here April 4, 1869, aged ninety 
years. When about twenty years of age, and before 
her marriage, Mrs. Smith, accompanied by her mother, 

* See Introductory pages, concerning peculiarities of Welsh family 
names. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 293 

made a journey on horseback in 1804, to Bethlehem, 
Litchfield county. Conn., their former home. 

JOHN PARRY, of Biynhynog Bach, Carnarvon- 
shire, came here in 1798 or 1799 with a number of 
families from the same locality. He located a short 
distance north of Ty Coch Corners, where a year or 
two previously had settled his son, William P. Jones. 
A daughter, Jane, was the first dressmaker and tailor- 
ess about here, and for many years worked around 
from house to house as the custom then was, wherever 
her services might be needed, and was always wel- 
comed as a member of the household. She died un- 
married, December 13, 1860, aged seventy-nine years. 
Martha, another daughter, married a Mr. Waldren 
and removed to the west. Mr. Parry died March 11, 
1805, aged sixty-six years; and Mary, his wife, died 
September 26, 1810, aged seventy-nine years. 

EVAN THOMAS came here with John Parry, and 
lived in a straw-thatched log house north of Ty Coch 
Corners. His wife was a sister of Mrs. John Parry, 
as was also the maternal grandmother of Joseph I. 
and Wallace Francis, of Remsen. 

WILLIAM C. JONES, who with his family came 
to Steuben in 1798, settled west of Store Felen on the 
farm owned by the late Lewis Everett. He was a 
carpenter by trade, and one of the first deacons of 
the Welsh church, Capel Ucha'. He died December 
27, 1828, aged seventy-eight years, and his wife, Ann, 
died March 20, 1841, aged ninety-one years. One 
son, Edward, survived them, and afterward removed 
to Albany, N. Y. 



294 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

JOHN EVANS (Boon) was born in Brynhynog 
Bach, North Wales, in 1772. He married Mary, 
daughter of John Parry, and emigrated to America 
in 1798 or 1799, coming directly from New York to 
Steuben, where he joined his brother-in-law, William 
P. Jones, who had preceded him to this country a 
year or two. For a time he lived with Mr. Jones who 
had settled temporarily north of Ty Coch, near the 
farm soon after settled by John Roberts (Creugiau), 
grandfather of the late John R. and Griffith Griffiths. 
Later he took up his residence at Trenton village, 
from which fact the appellation "Boon" came to be 
given him, since Trenton, or Olden Barneveld was 
called Boon by many of the country people, it being 
the residence of Gerrit Boon, agent for the Holland 
Land Company, and where Mr. Evans was for many 
years employed as gardener by Col. Adam Gerard 
Mappa, who succeeded Gerrit Boon. Shortly after he 
arrived in Steuben, Mr. Evans bought a bushel of 
wheat from a neighbor, which he carried on his back 
to mill at Whitesboro. In September, 1798, assisted 
by William C. Jones, he cut the first trees on the Capel 
Ucha' lot, to prepare a place for the grave of the first 
body buried there. The children born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Evans were Mary, wife of the late John Perry, 
of Trenton; William, who married Mary, daughter 
of Griffith I. Jones; Joanna, who married a Mr. Cham- 
bers; Margaret, who married John Morris; Sophia, 
who married Robert Jones (Tyddyn-y-Felin); John, 
who married Mary Williams; Jane, wife of Griffith 
W. Roberts; and four other children who died in in- 
fancy. Mrs. Evans died April 11, 1852, and was buried 
at Capel Bont, near Remsen. Mr. Evans died De- 
cember 27, 1860, and was buried at Trenton, 

The children of William and Mary (Jones) Evans 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 29s 

were Maria, who died from the effects of burns received 
when the family home, situated north of Remsen 
near the Phelps place, was destroyed by fire in 1858 
or 1859; Catherine, who died at the age of twelve 
years; Ann, who married George Mix; Harriet; Jo- 
anna, who married and lived in Dakota; John; Wil- 
liam; and Ursula. The children of Robert and Sophia 
(Evans) Jones were Jane; Sophia; William; John; 
Cornelia, wife of Archibald Moore, of Trenton; and 
Sarah, who married a Mr. Evans. The children of 
William and Joanna (Evans) Chambers were Andrew, 
Mary Ann, Julia, John, and another daughter whose 
name is not recalled. Children of Griffith W. and 
Jane (Evans) Roberts were Milton, who was killed 
in infancy by the fall of a ladder; Louise, who mar- 
ried Edgar B. Watkins, of Detroit, Mich. Mr. and 
Mrs. Roberts were married October 4, 1838. He died 
in Trenton township April 5, 1875, and Mrs. Roberts 
died at Detroit, July 4, 1897, aged eighty-two years. 
The children of John and Mary (Williams) Evans, 
were William Wallace, Christmas, and George. 

JOHN ROBERTS (Creugiau) came from Wales in 
1800, and located on the farm afterward owned by 
his grandson, John R. Griffiths, about half a mile 
north of Ty Coch Corners. His children were Jacob, 
and Catherine, who was the wife of Deacon Timothy 
Griffiths. 

EVAN GEORGE, from Llandygwdd, Cardigan- 
shire, South Wales, was an early settler on the R. R. 
Roberts farm, adjoining on the west the farm of 
John L. Jones on the road leading to Prospect. His 
children were Thomas; Henry; Evan; Jeremiah; Mar- 
garet, who married Daniel Bushnell; Ann, who mar- 



296 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

ried a Mr. Davis; and Sarah, who married David 
Davis, of Steuben. Mr. George died August 16, 1835. 

REV. JOHN ROBERTS was an early settler in 
Steuben, coming here from Ebensburgh, Pa., in 1801. 
His family consisted of three daughters and a son: 
Rachel, who married Edward Price, Jr.; Hannah, 
who married Rev. Evan Roberts; Mary; and David. 
The last named daughter and the son lived for many 
years at Store Felen, west of Remsen village. Mr. 
Roberts died in New York city and is buried in old 
Trinity churchyard, on Broadway. 

THOMAS CUFFIN, with his wife Catherine, came 
from Wales in 1801, and purchased land on which a 
small clearing had been made by Aaron Francis, where 
the house of R. Fremont Jones now stands. Their 
garden, filled with plants and flowering shrubs, became 
the admiration of the whole countryside, a veritable 
Eden in the wilderness, where rare varieties for those 
days were cultivated and nurtured. The farm still 
remains in the family, R. Fremont Jones being a 
great-grandson. The farm now comprises three home- 
steads of the early settlers, that of Robert Roberts, 
"Hughey" Jones and Thomas Cuffin. The children 
of Mr. and Mrs. CufFm were Catherine, wife of William 
I. Lewis; Nancy, who married John H. Jones; and 
Mary, who married Richard H. Jones. The chil- 
dren of the latter were Elias R., Hugh R., Thomas 
H., and Catherine. Elias R. married first Rachel, 
daughter of Robert M. Jones, and second, Ellen, 
daughter of Thomas Williams, of Steuben. 

ROBERT ROBERTS, from the parish of Llangybi, 
Carnarvonshire, came to Steuben in 1801. He built 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 297 

a framed house just west of Capel Ucha', his lot ad- 
joining the church lot in the rear, and the house stood 
about twenty-five rods north of the highway. By 
his wife Emily his children were Catherine, who mar- 
ried David Williams, and became the mother of David 
H. Williams, for years a prominent citizen of Steuben 
and later of Rome, N. Y.; Ellen, who married Wil- 
liam Lewis and was the mother of Squire William 
Lewis, long a representative citizen of Steuben town- 
ship; another daughter who married a Mr. Reed and 
became the mother of Ebenezer, Henry, John, David, 
Jane, Mary, Ann, Rachel, Harriet and Emily Reed; 
and William R., for many years a carpenter, cabinet 
maker and undertaker at Remsen, who married Jane 
Griffith, sister of Evan Griffith II, of Steuben. The 
children of William R. and Jane Roberts were Ellen, 
wife of Samuel Fairchild; Jane, wife of Cornelius 
Griffiths, of Remsen; Tryphena; Mary Ann, wife of 
Owen Richards, of Utica; Emily, wife of Samuel 
Douglas; and Robert W. The latter married first 
Electa, daughter of Gilbert Cole, and their children 
were M. Louisa, first wife of Theodore Worden, of 
Oswego; Lydia, who married a Mr. Smith and re- 
moved to Michigan; Grove, who died in infancy; and 
Charles O., of Oswego, N. Y. He married second, Mary 
Evans ( Bryn-gloch ), who had one son, Willard, of 
Remsen. 

STEPHEN BUFFINGTON, a Quaker, was an 
early settler on the Pen-y-caerau road, midway 
between Pen-y-caerau church and the Griffith An- 
thony place, on the opposite side of the highway. He 
later removed to the farm on the brow of the hill be- 
low the Perkins place, on the road from Prospect to 
Trenton Falls, where he lived for many years. 



298 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

JOHN WORDEN, from Black Rock, Vt., a revo- 
lutionary soldier, came early to Norway, Herkimer 
county, and there married Rebecca Clyde. Working 
by the month, he accumulated enough money to buy 
an ox-team and cart, with which and a few household 
goods he and his wife set out to look for a better lo- 
cation in some new settlement, eventually coming to 
Remsen township. This was early in the last century, 
and he later described Utica as containing at that 
time "a few log houses in the midst of a frog-pond." 
From there a corduroy road led to the foot of Deer- 
field hill, and following this causeway they reached 
Remsen after a tedious journey, where they finally 
selected a location on the Pen-y-caerau road, not far 
from where the Pen-y-caerau church now stands. 
Here they resided for twenty-five or thirty years, when 
they moved to Ninety Six. Their children were Isaac, 
John, Joseph, James, and Stephen. Isaac married 
Betsy Nichols, and their children were Calvin, Syl- 
venus, Joseph, Delphina, Sarah Ann, Brayton, and 
Delight. John married Anna Whiteman, and their 
children were Catherine, Susan Henry, Martha, and 
Ellen. James married a Miss Phillips, Stephen mar- 
ried Savanna Michaels, and their children were Nancy 
and Peter. The latter married Mary, daughter of 
John and Barbara Seiter, who settled in the township 
of Boonville, having come from Alsace-Loraine, France, 
in 1848. The children of Peter and Mary (Seiter) 
Worden are Joseph and Frank. 

REV. CALEB ALEXANDER, who was the first 
missionary sent here by New England missionary, 
societies, founded a church at Steuben, He was a 
native of Noithfield, Mass., gi'aduated from Yale in 
1777, and, having been admitted to the ministry, was 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 299 

settled as pastor over the church at Mendon, Wor- 
cester county, Mass. He made a missionary tour 
through the newly settled parts of New York in 1801, 
under direction of the Massachusetts Missionary So- 
ciety, visiting various localities in the different coun- 
ties lying between the Hudson and Lake Erie. On 
his return journey he remained for some time in Her- 
kimer county, preaching at Fairfield and Norway, 
and also made arrangements for opening a school at 
the former place. A framed building was erected, 
and in May, 1802, he returned from Massachusetts 
with his family, and actively commenced to lay the 
foundation of the institution which developed into the 
celebrated Fairfield Academy. During the whole 
period he was at its head, he continued to preach at 
Fairfield and other places in Herkimer county. Early 
in the nineteenth century he was called to Hamilton 
College, then a small school, and was given the task 
of soliciting funds to enlarge the field of the school's 
activity. He raised $50,000 for this purpose, and 
was promised he should be made the first president 
of the college, which was to bear his name. 

By the time the funds were spent, however, Alex- 
ander Hamilton, who had given land to the college, 
was given the honor of having the institution named 
for him. Mr. Alexander then withdrew from the 
school and moved to Onondaga Valley, in 1812, where 
he immediately set to work to found another college, 
which he hoped would become important enough to 
eclipse Hamilton. In this way Onondaga Free Acad- 
emy, which became quite celebrated and is still in 
existence, was founded. 

A man of extensive learning and varied accomplish- 
ments, Mr. Alexander was a fine conversationalist 
and an author of some note. Among his many pub- 



300 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

lished works were his Latin and English Grammars, 
which were of high repute in their day. His educa- 
tion was as thorough, and as complete as could be 
obtained in this country at the time he graduated. 
He spent the remainder of his life at Onondaga, preach- 
ing and teaching, giving also a portion of his attention 
to farming. 

REV. JOHN TAYLOR visited these townships 
under the auspices of the Hampshire Missionary So- 
ciety in 1802, from whose interesting journal kept 
at that time we have quoted in these pages. He was 
then not far from forty years of age, pastor of the 
Congregational church society at Deerfield, Mass., 
and has been described as "a gentleman of high re- 
spectability, of good reputation as a minister, of 
finished education for the times, and of more than 
ordinary capacity." About the year 1817, or perhaps 
a little earlier, he took up his residence in this state 
at Mendon, Ontario — now Monroe — county, and at- 
tained considerable influence among his brother min- 
isters and over the churches and community there. 
He continued to reside in that part of the state until 
1832, when he removed to Michigan, where he died, 
at Bruce, Macomb county, in 1840. 

MORRIS JONES (Felin Chwelog), of the parish 
of Llanarmon, Carnarvonshire, North Wales, having 
determined to emigrate with his family to America, 
took passage from a neighboring Welsh port in a small 
brig called the "Hugh Charles," bound for Baltimore, 
in 1801. In the Bay of Conway a fierce storm threat- 
ened at night, and riding at anchor, the brig with all 
on board was forsaken by the ship's crew; she being 
left to weather the storm as best she could, or to be 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 301 

dashed to pieces, and all to perish if Providence so 
willed. The storm having abated before morning, 
the crew returned at daylight, with the cheerful an- 
nouncement to those whom they had so unfeelingly 
deserted, that it had been their expectation to pick 
up their bodies on the rock-bound coast. With the 
intention of locating in a section called Beulah, in the 
interior of Pennsylvania, Mr. Jones had taken pass- 
age in the Hugh Charles for Baltimore, rather than 
wait indefinitely for a vessel that would take them 
to a point nearer their intended destination. Arriv- 
ing at Baltimore, he dispatched two of his sons to pur- 
chase a location in the section desired. The sons, in 
company with two other young men who had come 
from Wales in the same vessel, made the journey on 
foot from Baltimore, traveling through the wilds of 
Pennsylvania's sparsely settled territory. When at 
last approaching the borders of the coveted "Beulah 
Land," they frequently paused in their journey, 
sought some eminence, whence from the branches of 
its tallest trees they viewed the country, in an endeavor 
to locate water courses and to determine from the 
character of the surroundmg forest timber where the 
best soil might be found. Eventually, however, they 
learned that all available land there had been pre- 
empted by previous comers. So they wearily re- 
turned to the old father at Baltimore, with the un- 
welcome intelligence. The family subsequently made 
the toilsome journey from Baltimore to Remsen. 

Arriving here, he purchased a tract of land on which 
not a stick had then been cut. It comprised the farm 
known as the John G. Jones farm and that lately owned 
by the Lewis (Llanbadarn) family, including that 
portion of the latter reserved by Joseph L Francis. 
Mr. Jones' sons cleared about one acre, twenty-five 



302 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

rods or so east of the site of the J. G. Jones house, 
built a log cabin and dug and walled a well; which 
latter was recently discovered by accident, after hav- 
ing been filled for nearly one hundred years. Shortly 
after their settlement here, the road leading from the 
turnpike across the creek opposite the Piatt house, 
and terminating at the State road north of Prospect, 
was surveyed and cut through. This was a source 
of grief to them, for the new road took up a goodly 
portion of their clearing; and also brought past their 
door many travelers who would stop to ask directions 
as to the way they should take. To the old people 
who could not understand the English language very 
well, this was a sore annoyance. So their sons had 
another lot cleared, and built for them a new log house on 
the hillside, below where the J. G. Jones barn now stands. 

Morris Jones was a son of Richard Jones, and in 
Wales was called "MoiTis ap Richard" (Morris, son 
of Richard), contracted to Morris Prichard, while 
the sons were given the father's christian name, "Mor- 
ris," for their surname. But in this country father 
and sons resumed the family surname of the preced- 
ing generation. 

The children of Morris and Anne Jones were Rich- 
ard M.; John M.; Laura, who died in childhood; 
Robert M.; and Mary, who married John G. Jones. 
Richard M., married Jane Roberts. They removed 
to Millen's Bay, on the St. Lawrence, about 1833. 
Their children were Ann, Isaac, Jacob, Abraham, Jane, 
Rebecca, and Sarah. The latter married William 
Richards (Penrhiwder). John M. married first a 
daughter of John Lewis (Ty Careg), by whom he had 
children, and second, he married Margaret Griffiths 
(Llanllawen). Children: Ellen (Mrs. Wheeler), Wil- 
liam and Jane. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 303 

ROBERT M. JONES was born in the parish of 
Llanarmon Eifionydd, in Carnarvonshire, North Wales, 
in 1783. It is recorded in the book of baptisms in 
the register of Llanarmon parish church that on 
"June 24, 1783, was baptized Robert Morris, son of 
Morris Prichard by Anne, his wife." In boyhood he 
received fair educational advantages for the time, 
and at the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to the 
millwright trade in the neighboring shire of Mer- 
ioneth. However, before the expiration of his term 
of apprenticeship his father decided to emigrate with 
his family to America, so bought from the master the 
unexpired time of the apprenticeship, that he might 
bring the son to this country with him. Here he 
completed his trade, following the vocation and that 
of building for many years. He was the first in this 
section to build by what is known as "square rule." 
Thitherto framed structures in these parts were built 
exclusively by what was termed "scribe rule," or the 
method of "cut and try." He came here in 1801, 
and in early manhood purchased a farm, and subse- 
quently other parcels of land, and engaged extensively 
in farming and dairying in addition to mill-construc- 
tion and building. In 1839 he purchased the mills 
and water privilege in Remsen village, where in 1850- 
1852 he replaced the Piatt mills by new ones. In 
July, 1807, he married Jane, born in 1785, daughter 
of Rev. Richard Jones. He died December 3, 1873, 
aged ninety years; and his wife died May 3, 1850, 
aged sixty-five years. 

Their children were Elizabeth, born December 4, 
1808, married Hugh J. Hughes and died in August, 
1868. Children: John H.; Jane, who married Mat- 
thew Jones; Cornelius; Lewis; Lydia, who married 



304 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Evan Thomas; Dr. Robert H., who married Martha 
Lewis; and Ellen. 

Cornelius R. was born in Trenton township Octo- 
ber 27, 1809. He attended school at Remsen, and 
when a youth worked at the mill-wright and carpenter 
trades with his father. When about eighteen he went 
to Johnstown, N. Y., where he assisted at carpenter 
work for a time, and thence went to Albany. Return- 
ing to his home, he remained here until his time was 
his own, when he left again, in the spring of 1831, 
with the intention of journeying to Ohio, then the 
Eldorado of the west. He walked to Rome, and 
from there followed the tow-path of the Erie canal 
to Syracuse, where he met a friend who secured work 
for him at the Lodi dry-dock. He remained in Syra- 
cuse, where he later began to take mill-work and build- 
ing contracts on his own account. In December, 
1831, he married Phoebe, daughter of Zimri and Eliza- 
beth Barber, of Canton, N. Y. Their children were 
Nelson O., who married Celestia Root; George W., 
who married Elizabeth Piatt; Elizabeth, who married 
Frederick Gardner; Loren, who married first, Ellen 
Hymes, and second Gertrude (Bedel) Smith; Charles 
H., unmarried, who served in Company C, 185th Regi- 
ment, N. Y. volunteers, and died June 17, 1872. In 
the winter of 1849-1850, Mr. Jones returned to Rem- 
sen, where he resided until 1855, during which time 
he rebuilt the Piatt mills, now known as the Remsen 
Mills. He died at Syracuse April 3, 1898. 

Mon'is R. was born in the township of Trenton, 
February 16, 1812. He learned the trade of mill- 
wright, and at an early age located at Syracuse where 
he was engaged in mill-wTight and contract work, 
boat-building, largely. He was of an inventive mind 
and devised many useful inventions, among which 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 305 

was a gate paddle, which came into general use on 
canal-lock gates throughout the country. On August 
16, 1837, he married Elizabeth, born August 22, 1819, 
daughter of Alfred and Orpha (Winchell) Little. 
Their children were Orpha J., born November 8, 1839, 
married Augustus Piatt February 22, 1865, to whom 
was born February 15, 1866 a son, Charles T., who 
married Lulu Parks September 5, 1893. Allen M., 
born December 15, 1844, married Anna M. Hitchcock 
February 25, 1874, by whom he has one daughter, 
Myrtie Elizabeth, born December 25, 1875, and who 
married Myron Terpening November 20, 1902. Mr. 
Jones died October 9, 1874; and his widow July 13, 
1903. 

Mary A., born January 25, 1814, died April 5, 1893; 
married Isaac W. Roberts in April, 1834. Children: 
Jefferson W., died March 7, 1862; I. Newton, served 
in Company E., 1st. Regiment of Illinois Light Ar- 
tillery, married Barbara Louise Sayers, died May 16, 
1872; Lydia A.; George W., who served in Company 
B., 149th Reg't., N. Y. S. Vol's.; died January 27, 
1888; Frank C, married Ellie Copeland, of Canton, 
N. Y., to whom were born two children, Frank Marcy, 
and Clayton who died in infancy; Frank C. died 
November 19, 1886; Marietta E., who married Edward 
R. Walsh, of Chicago, to whom was born one daughter, 
Annie M.; Mrs. Walsh died September 1, 1909; 
Clinton M., who died September 26, 1905; and Millard 
F., who married Agnes L. Gay, of Syracuse, N. Y., 
October 7, 1886. 

Hannah, born June 7, 1816, died in January 1871, 
married Griffith W. Jones. Children: Gordon G.; 
Eliza J., who married Edward J. Utley; and Robert 
M., who died at the age of fourteen years. 

Jane, born February 17, 1820, married Griffith W. 



3o6 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Wheldon. Children: Jane E., who married Lewis 
Richards; Elnora, who died at the age of nineteen; 
WilHam; Mary E., who married Dr. B. Frank Has- 
kins; Rachel, who died in infancy; and Leah A., who 
married William H. Jones. Mrs Wheldon died Oc- 
tober 4, 1881. 

Leah, bom January 17, 1823, married Evan P. 
Owens by whom she had two children, Ann Jane, 
and Robert Lloyd, both of whom died in infancy. 
Mrs. Owens died March 26, 1852. 

Rachel E., bom August 23, 1825, married Elias 
R. Jones. Children: Jane M., who married William 
M. Jones, and has one daughter, R. Emily, who mar- 
ried Chauncey H. Williams; Catherine L., who mar- 
ried John L. Jones; and R. Fremont, who married 
Lydia, daughter of Thomas Evans. They have one 
son, Russell. Mrs. Rachel E. Jones died in Novem- 
ber, 1858. 

Richard R., born April 20, 1830, married Mary A., 
daughter of John and Elizabeth Jones. Their chil- 
dren were Lida, who married William T. Murty; 
Robert M., and Nellie F. Mr. Jones died December 
8, 1866 

ROBERT JONES (Tyddyn-y-Felin) emigrated from 
Carnarvonshire in 1801, landed at New York and 
came directly to this locality. He bought of the 
Holland Land Company sixty acres, situated just 
east of the village between the highway to Prospect 
which passes the J. G. Jones farm, and that leading 
from Remsen past the stone church to the State road. 
Here he made a clearing and built a log house nearly 
opposite the J. G. Jones house. But he lived only a 
few years after his arrival, and his widow and their 
youngest son, Moses, conducted the farm. About 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 307 

1820 they built a stone house at the top of the hill 
ten rods or so north of the Prospect road, though not 
a vestige now remains to mark its site. Of their 

children William the eldest married Jane , 

in London, England, and immediately came with his 
bride to America, locating here a year previous to the 
arrival of his father and the rest of the family; Mar- 
garet, married Robert Evans (Nant), of Steuben; 
Emma married John Williams; Elizabeth married 
Hugh Jones; Jemima married Robert Owen; John; 
Moses married Dinah Davis; and Ann married Wil- 
liam H. Owens. The children of William and Jane 
Jones were Robert, who married Sophia, daughter 
of John Evans (Boon); Ellis, who lived for many 
years near Boonville where he died; Daniel; Ann, 
who married Griffith Jones; Moses, who married 

Evans; and Margaret, who married a Mr. 

Ketcham. The children of Moses and Dinah (Davis) 
Jones were Jane, born in 1818, married Henry W. 
Roberts in 1837; Ann, who married Moses Nash Fuller, 
and removed to Chicago; Ezekiel, captain of Company 
I., 146th Regiment, N. Y. Volunteers, taken sick in bar- 
racks at Rome, dying there at the home of Mr. John 
Parry, November 6, 1862, aged thirty-eight years; 
Simeon and Josiah, both of whom removed to Min- 
nesota; Benjamin; and Moses, who died in infancy. 
Ezekiel married Deborah Avery. Children: Avery 
D., Flora, Dean, Elvira, Lula and George. 

EVAN WILLIAMS (Bryn Gola), from Carnar- 
vonshire, settled in Steuben in 1801, on the south side 
of the highway which branches north-west to French 
Road from the Ty Coch road near the late John R. 
Griffiths' farm. There was a clearing of about two 
acres when Mr. Williams took possession, and here 



3o8 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

he later built a stone house. By his first wife he had 
two sons, William E., and John E. The latter served 
in the Pensacola war, but returned here in 1856, and 
later removed to Chambersburgh, Pa. He had a 
family of nine children. Evan Williams had two 
sons by a second wife, Thomas E., and Richard E. 
He died May 17, 1837, aged eighty-three years; and 
Eleanor, his widow, died May 24, 1850. Richard E. 
died December 16, 1855; Thomas E., died December 
29, 1885, aged seventy-two years, and Catherine, his 
wife, born at Aber, Carnarvonshire, died February 4, 
1886, aged seventy years. 

Shortly after the family settled here, they were 
annoyed by what they supposed to be a large dog 
belonging to Ebenezer Weeks. For several nights 
it had been coming into the Williams clearing, tan- 
talizing their smaller dog, and even wounding him 
severely. Determined to rid themselves of this trou- 
blesome visitor, the two older sons armed themselves 
with sled-stakes one night, and awaited the coming 
of the intruder. When he appeared they were in 
readiness, and pounced suddenly upon him, mauling 
him lustily with their clubs, until he finally lay dead 
at their feet. Then, fearing Mr. Weeks would resent 
the killing of his dog, and not wishing to get into any 
controversy with a neighbor, they buried the carcass. 
The following day one of the young men chanced to 
pass the farm of Mr. Weeks, and was astonished to 
see the latter's dog about the premises, apparently 
no worse for his clubbing and burial in a shallow gi-ave. 
It then occurred to them that the dog they had killed 
also resembled one owned by William Prichard, an- 
other neighbor. So to ascertain whose dog they 
really had killed, they dug up the body, when it proved 
to be that of a wolf. Now, as a bounty was at that 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 3C39 

time offered by both the township and county for each 
wolf's head, they reahzed twenty dollars from the 
mistake they had made. 

WILLIAM WILLIAMS (Y Bala), son of Evan 
Williams (Bryn Gola), settled west of his father's 
farm not far from French Road. His children were 
Jane, who married David Thomas; Ellen, who married 
a Mr. Fry, of Philadelphia, Pa.; Gwen, who never 
married; Mary, who married Valentine Hagen; Evan; 
John; and William. 

GRIFFITH G. JONES (Careg Fawr) came to this 
country in 1801, settling in Steuben near French Road. 
He had five children, Hugh G., John G., Robert G., 
William G., and Jane, who married Robert Jones (Y 
Bryn). John G. married Mary, daughter of Morris 
and Anne Jones, and their children were Laura, who 
married John Jones; Winifred, Joshua G., Mary G., 
and Jane G. The children of John and Laura Jones 
were Richard J., Joshua G., Mary A., and Henry, 
who died in infancy. 

HUGH JONES (Bod Isaf) located on the farm first 
settled by Cap. Simeon Woodruff, near the Fuller 
place. He came from Wales in 1801. He had two 
sons, Richard H., and John H., and a daughter, Cath- 
erine, who married Griffith Maurice. His son Richard 
H. succeeded him on the farm, and the latter's widow, 
Mary H., continued to live there for many years. She 
married, second, Griffith O. Griffiths. 

JOHN T. HUGHES, from Wales, also settled early in 
this locality. His children were John, Thomas, Humph- 
rey, Catherine, first wife of James Owen, and Simeon. 



310 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

JOHN JONES, an early Welsh tailor, settled in this 
locality also. His children were Thomas, Griffith 
and two daughters, one of whom married Humphrey 
Hughes, and the other, Eleanor, married Simeon Hughes. 

MORRIS ELLIS, born in the parish of Llanllychid, 
Carnarvonshire, North Wales, came to this country 
in 1801, and died in Steuben, March 31, 1845, aged 
eighty-nine years. His wife, Mary, born in Cilfodan, 
Llanllychid, died March 6, 1844, aged eighty-four 
years. They had one child, Catherine, who mar- 
ried Robert Thomas (Pen-morva). Mr. Ellis bought 
a small farm and built a framed house, directly oppo- 
site the Welsh Baptist church (Capel Isaf) in Steuben, 
where both he and his wife died. 

ROBERT THOMAS was bom in the parish of 
Pen-morva, Carnarvonshire, January 1, 1781, and 
died in Steuben September 25, 1851. His wife was 
Catherine, daughter of Morris Ellis, mentioned above. 
He was among the early settlers in Steuben, and built 
the stone house at the foot of Ty Coch hill, subse- 
quently owned for many years by Hugh Evans (Pen 
Castell), and later by Mr. Evans' son William. Mr. 
Thomas' house was for many years a temporary home 
or stopping-place for the newly arrived Welsh people 
who had no kindred or friends that had preceded them 
to these parts — his home being their own until they 
could determine on a location to suit them. Mr. and 
Mrs. Thomas had no children, but adopted and reared 
a boy and a girl belonging to different families, and to 
whom they left as co-heirs an estate amounting to 
about twenty-five thousand dollars, a large fortune 
for those days in this locality. Mr. Thomas' widow 
erected a monument over his grave bearing a suitable 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 311 

inscription, whereon also was left a space for an in- 
scription to herself. After her death, however, the 
legatees — the foster children, by their guardians — 
became involved in litigation over a division of the 
personal estate, and the monument stands to-day 
bearing no inscription to this most estimable woman 
She died August 2, 1854. 

JOHN LEWIS (Ty Careg), from Wales, took up a 
farm on the turnpike a little over two miles south of 
Remsen village in 1801, and in 1804 built the stone 
house on that place. Before there were churches or 
even school-houses in this section, Welsh religious 
services were held therein, and as it was the first house 
in these parts to be built of stone, it was called "Ty- 
careg" (Stone House), a name that clung long after 
other houses were constructed here of the same ma- 
terial. The outer walls alone were of masonry, the 
interior partitions being entirely of boards, an inch or 
inch and a quarter in thickness, planed but without 
tongue or groove. His son, William I., was a success- 
ful farmer and man of prominence, especially in re- 
ligious work. He married Elizabeth, daughter of 
Thomas Cuffin, of Steuben, and their children were 
Elizabeth, wife of Robert H. Hughes, who died De- 
cember 4, 1836, aged twenty-two years; Cuffin, who 
married a daughter of Owen Lewis; Lumla; Mary, 
wife of David Prichard; Ruth, wife of Rev. David 
Prichard, who removed to one of the western states; 
and William I., Jr., who married first a daughter 
of William Thomas, and second, Jane, daughter of 
Thomas P. Jones. 

HENRY WHITEMAN was born January 16, 1777, 
and as early as 1804 was living in Steuben, later lo- 



312 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

eating at Ninety Six. In 1819 he removed to Jasper, 
Steuben county. His wife was Martha Van Vleet, 
by whom he had eight children. One of their daugh- 
ters married John Worden, of Remsen township. 

TIMOTHY GRIFFITHS, bom in Carnarvonshire 
in 1780, came to this country in 1801, and to Steuben 
in 1805, where in 1808 he married Catherine, daughter 
of John W. and Ann Roberts (Creugieu). He became 
a member of the Welsh Congregational Church of 
Steuben in 1807, and continued an active and zeal- 
ous member during the remainder of his life. He was 
stricken with paralysis while engaged in prayer at 
Capel Ucha', never regained consciousness, and died 
within a few days. Their children were Catherine, 
wife of Griffith G. Jones; John R.; Griffith; Ann, who 
married first William Roberts (Tre-fach), and second, 
John Roberts (Felin); Mary, who married a Mr. Jones; 
Caroline; and Laura. 

REV. MORGAN WILLIAMS, an early Baptist 
minister, came to Steuben from Wales in 1801, and 
preached occasionally, to a limited number of his 
countrymen, before the organization of any church 
there. He is buried at Capel Isaf . 

JOHN JONES, SR. (Farm), and his wife Efizabeth, 
came from Wales before the year 1800. Some time 
prior to this the Holland Land Company had cleared 
a large section of land south of Trenton village, from 
which the resident agent of the company got his table 
supplies and farm products to provide for the large 
retinue of servants he employed. This tract was 
designated "The Farm." For many years Mr. Jones 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 313 

lived on this place, acting as manager or superintend- 
ent, and so the appellation "Farm," has clung to one 
line of his descendants — that of his eldest son — for 
at least five generations. The children of John and 
Elizabeth Jones were Griffith; John F.; William J.; 
Hugh J.; Samuel; Ellen, who died young; Elizabeth, 
who married a Mr. Oliver; and one other whose name 
is not remembered. Griffith, though only nineteen, 
was married and was the father of one child, Grif- 
fith, Jr., when he came to this country with the family. 
He maiTied for his second wife the widow of Thomas 
Abrams, whose husband died in New York city. Her 
children by her first marriage were the late Thomas 
Abrams, of Remsen, and Elizabeth, wife of John 
Hughes; and by this second marriage, William, John 
F., and Mary, who died in childhood. John F. Jones 
married Mary, sister of the late Daniel Thomas, of 
Steuben. Their children were Charles, who removed 
to Fulton, N. Y.; Jonathan, a farmer and prominent 
citizen of northern Trenton for many years; Richard; 
Ann, who married Thomas Thomas; Elizabeth, who 
died young; and Maria, wife of Rev. Erasmus Jones, 
of Utica. William married Miriam, daughter of 
William Griffiths, of Steuben, by whom he had chil- 
dren as follows: Nancy, Lydia, Elizabeth, Jane, Evan, 
and James, the last of whom removed to one of the 
southern states. John, son of Griffith and Mary 
Jones, married Elizabeth Jones, and their children 
were Mary A., Eliza, who married George Eggert; 
Amelia; Ellen, who married Judson Witherell, Jr.; 
and Jennie. Mary A. married Richard R. Jones. 
Children: Lida, wife of William T. Murty; Robert 
M., deceased; and Nellie F. 

After having managed the Holland Company's 
farm for a period of twenty years or more, John Jones, 



314 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Sr., moved to a small place about two and a half miles 
south of Remsen, at the junction of the turnpike and 
the road leading to Store Felen, in Steuben. Some 
distance north of this location, his son Griffith bought 
the farm settled in 1799 by William Frazier, a Scotch- 
man, and it still remains in the family, and is desig- 
nated "The Farm." 

DANIEL THOMAS, originally from Wales, came 
from Philadelphia to Steuben in 1806. Mr. Thomas 
was a stone-cutter by trade, and did work on bridges 
crossing the Schuykill river at Philadelphia. His 
children were Mary, who married William Griffiths 
(Llanllawen) ; Ann, who married William G. Jones; 
Catherine, who married William H. Thomas; Thomas 
D., who married Elizabeth, daughter of Owen Perry; 
and Deborah. All except the eldest, Mary, were 
bom in Steuben. 

WILLIAM WILKINSON came from Connecticut 
in 1807, locating on the east side of the Pen-y-caerau 
road, a little south of the farm later owned by Griffith 
Anthony, which was settled the same year by Jacob, 
son of William Wilkinson, bom in 1775, who came here 
with his father. Jacob married Margaret Cady, bom 
in Preston, Conn., in 1789, a sister of Andrew Cady, 
Sr. Their children were William; James; John, who 
went to Canada when a young man; Lydia, who mar- 
ried Lewis Dodge; Susan, wife of Andrew G. Cady; 
and Mary, who married Charles Popple. Some mem- 
bers of this family were expert weavers, people coming 
long distances bringing their flax and wool, to have 
this work done by them. Much of the product of 
their looms was very artistic, both in color and 
design. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 315 

HARVEY PHELPS, son of Nathan and Elizabeth 
Phelps, was born it is said in Steuben township, though 
his parents owned and lived on Lot No. 16, Service's 
Patent, in Remsen, as early as 1803. Harvey married 
Sally, daughter of Ezra Green, and was prominent in 
business and active in church work, being one of the 
first class-leaders in the Methodist society here. As 
early as 1820, he built a saw-mill on Cincinnati creek, 
just north of Remsen village, which he operated until 
his death, in March, 1824. Their children were Amy 
Church, born in December, 1816, married Hiram S. 
Morgan, and died in September, 1892; James Harvey, 
born February 26, 1818, married Annett Saunders; 
Chandley Lambert, bom February 13, 1820, married 
Catherine Churchill; Nathan Charles, born May 28, 
1821, married Adaline Waterbury; and Elizabeth 
Booth (Mrs. Wheeler), born December 3, 1823. Har- 
vey Phelps seemed to be followed by misfortunes at a 
period just prior to his death. One Sunday morning 
he went out, and found their cow dead, the following 
Sunday their horse also was found dead; and the loss 
of these animals in those days was a serious one. Mr. 
Phelps seemed to be depressed after this, and to have 
a presentiment of his coming death, for he spoke of 
it in class-meeting. The next Sunday morning as he 
arose, he remarked to his wife that he had dreamed 
that their barn had taken fire and burned to the ground; 
and going to the bam to attend the stock soon after, 
he threw hay down to the animals, then struck the 
tines of his fork into the mow and attempted to use 
it as an aid in vaulting to a lower part of the mow, but 
as he started to spring his hands slipped and the handle 
of the fork penetrated his body. He managed to 
walk to the house, and said as he met his wife at the 
door: "Sally, my dream portended more ill-fortune for 



3i6 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

US. My end is near at hand." In spite of medical 
skill, he died within two or three days. 

GILBERT COLE, from Connecticut, married Bar- 
bara, daughter of Agur Fairchild, and shortly after 
marriage settled in that section of Remsen township 
known as Fairchild, the date of their coming here 
being at least as early as 1800. They subsequently 
resided in several different parts of the township, but 
in 1806 were located on Lot 95, of the Remsenburg 
Patent. Their children were Maria, who married 
Joseph Worden, and removed to Oswego; William; 
Joseph; Anna, who married Smith Crosby, of Pros- 
pect; Susan, who married David Claus, of Houseville, 
N. Y. ; Electa, first wife of Robert W. Roberts of Rem- 
sen; Benjamin, who married Sabra Ann Ingersoll; 
and Sally, who married David Davis, and removed 
to Oswego. 

JUDER CROSBY came from Norway, Herkimer 
county, in 1800, and settled north of Pen-y-caerau 
church, where he built a log inn which he conducted 
for some years. His wife was Olive Cady, sister of 
Andrew Cady, Sr. Their children were Smith; Joseph; 
Henry; Angeline, who married Simeon La Sure (or 
La Seur); and Harriet. Mr. Crosby later moved to 
what is now Prospect village, where he built a log 
house in the Basin near the falls ; and still later removed 
to a location near the James Owen place, now the 
farm of John L. Jones, northwest of Prospect, where 
he built another log house, and also built one in the 
lower part of what is now Prospect village, below the 
hill on the road leading to Trenton Falls. Wolves 
were so troublesome at his first location, that he was 
compelled to frighten them away from the hog-pens 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 317 

and sheep-pens at night with fire-brands. Smith 
Crosby married Anna, daughter of Gilbert Cole, of 
Remsen. Children: Juder, who died at the age of 
twelve years; Maurice, who died at the age of three; 
Romayne B., of Boonville; and Eliza Anna, wife of 
Martin Bimpelle, of Whitesboro. 

ROBERT G. POTTER was born April 16, 1775, 
and married Bernice Throop December 8, 1801, who 
was born July 14, 1780. Not much is known of the 
family prior to their coming to Remsen, not even 
whence they came. Mr. Potter kept a public house 
on the south corner of Main and Steuben streets, 
which was continued by his widow. He died here 
November 21, 1816. Their children were Mary T., 
born December 19, 1802, married Sylick Halstead 
and moved to Troy, N. Y.; John T., born March 18, 
1805; William Clark, bom May 20, 1808; Sarah R. 
Ann, born February 14, 1813; and Joseph C, born 
April 16, 1815. The latter was an artist of more than 
ordinary talent, his work being largely in pen-draw- 
ings. He went to California and died there. John 
T., for some years did an extensive business hauling 
merchandise by teams between Utica and Watertown. 
Mrs. Potter married for her second husband, Joseph 
Halstead, August 20, 1818. 

THOMAS THOMAS in his youth led a seafaring 
life, and at the age of twenty-one, having previously 
become an American citizen by the act of his father 
who came from Carnarvonshire to Philadelphia in 
1795, suffered the indignity of seizure by a British 
man-of-war, while en route from New York to Liver- 
pool in the merchant service, a species of barbarism 
then in vogue on the part of England, not fully aban- 



3i8 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

doned until the treaty of Ghent at the conclusion of 
the war of 1812. Directly following his enforced serv- 
ice under the British flag against the first Napoleon, 
the vessel to which he had been forcibly transferred 
engaged a French frigate of superior armament, and 
during the bloody carnage which ensued Mr. Thomas 
suffered the loss of his right lower limb, by a thirty- 
six pound cannon ball. The engagement was not 
decisive in consequence of a dense fog, which separated 
the combatants. His limb was amputated by the 
ship's surgeon, and he was soon transferred to a hos- 
pital at Halifax, thence to London, where he remained 
until his cure was effected, when he returned to his 
native home in Wales. He married Mary Hughes, 
and soon thereafter embarked for America, arriving 
in Philadelphia in 1800, where he remained four years 
and then removed to Steuben. He lived to the age 
of eighty-six years and had used an artificial limb for 
a period of sixty-five years. Thus for nearly the 
space allotted to human life, did he endure this great 
deprivation, the result of British tyranny. But in 
justice to England it is proper to state that, although 
the subject of another government, he was, up to the 
time of his death, a British pensioner, an anomalous 
case, and exceptional throughout the records of En- 
glish admiralty. 

DIDYMUS THOMAS, son of Thomas and Mary 
Thomas, was long a prominent citizen of Remsen. 
He was twice married, his first wife being Lydia, the 
daughter of Rev. William G. Pierce, by whom he had 
one daughter, Mary Ann, who married Wallace Fran- 
cis. His second wife was a daughter of John R. Grif- 
fiths, of Philadelphia, Pa. 

William H. Thomas, son of Thomas Thomas, mar- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 319 

ried Catherine, daughter of Daniel Thomas of Steuben. 
Children: Daniel, who died young; Edwin, who mar- 
ried Mary A. Wilkins, of Deerfield; Mary, who died 
in infancy; Mary, 2d., who married Thomas Prichard 
(Enlli); Annie, who married William W. Evans; Amelia, 
who married G. Bowen Griffiths, and removed to 
California; Maria, who married Ellis P. Lewis, and 
also removed to California; and Lydia. 

ANDREW CADY, SR., was born in Preston, Conn., 
January 17, 1768, and died at the Cady homestead 
in Remsen township, March 21, 1863. He married 
Martha Gallup, of Voluntown, Conn., where they 
lived for a time and thence removed to Norway, 
Herkimer county, about 1805 or 1807, where they 
remained for two years and then came to Remsen. 
They settled first where Pen-y-caerau church now 
stands, where there was a fine spring of water. Mr. 
Cady built a log house here, and for two years it had 
only a bed blanket for a door, they not being able 
to get sawed lumber from which to make a door. 
One evening Mrs. Cady went out to milk their cow, 
and noticing the animal's strange actions and also the 
disquiet of the dog that accompanied her to the yard, 
was led to investigate, and found a wolf within the 
enclosure. Fearing to turn back, she tore off a mantle 
she wore upon her shoulders and shook it at the wolf, 
when he disappeared into the forest. After about 
two years they removed to the Andrew Cady farm, 
where Mr. Cady built the large framed house on that 
place. During the war of 1812, the family heard it 
rumored that a body of troops would pass this way 
on their march to Sacket Harbor; and being imbued 
with the patriotic "spirit of '76," and knowing that the 
soldiers must be furnished with provisions, for two 



320 IIIS'I'ORY OF REMSEN 

weeks they saved from the dairy all the sour milk, 
and when they definitely learned that the troops were 
on their way, baked large quantities of bread, beans, 
and other food. After the troops had passed there 
was left nothing of bread, beans, bonny-clabber or 
other edibles, while the fruit of the orchard also had 
vanished. 

Mr. Cady brought with him into the town a box of 
old scrap-iron, articles he thought might be useful 
and perhaps difficult to obtain in a newly settled 
community, such as nails, bolts, butts, etc. In this 
box also was twelve hundred dollars in gold and silver 
coin. During all their journey the box was left in 
the wagon, wherever it might be — in a stable, inn- 
yard or under a shed with none to guard it, and its 
contents were not disturbed. 

The children of Andrew and Martha Cady were 
Benjamin, Annie (Mrs. Greenfield), Gilson (who died 
September 19, 1831, aged twenty-two years), Eunice, 
and Andrew G. Mrs. Cady died January 3, 1870, 
aged ninety-two years. Benjamin married Hannah, 
daughter of Jesse Smith, and their children were 
George W., who died young; B. Smith, T. Randall 
and H. Melissa. Andrew G. Cady married Susan, 
daughter of Jacob Wilkinson. Their children were 
Darius A., Charles G., Anna, Martha, and Elizabeth. 

REV. RICHARD JONES (Ty-rhedyn), a Baptist 
clergyman of the City of Cardigan, South Wales, was 
born in the parish of Trewyddel, Pembrokeshire, in 
1760. He was the son of David and Hannah Jones, 
one of a family of five children, David, Thomas, Rich- 
ard, John, and Hannah. The father was a farmer, 
and the family enjoyed only the meager comforts 
and advantages that fell to the lot of people of slender 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 321 

means in the Principality of Wales at that time. The 
family appellation was Ty-rhedyn, from Ty-yn-y- 
rhedyn — house among the ferns — the name of the 
homestead that nestled among the ferns that abound 
on the sea-coast hills of Wales. The father died when 
the family was young, and a thrifty, striving mother 
brought them up honorably. The sons soon got into 
trades in and about Cardigan, and with the exception 
of Richard continued to reside in Wales, highly re- 
spected. Comparatively little is known on this side 
of the Atlantic concerning the present representatives 
of those branches, though we are informed that some 
of them attained to eminent positions of trust and 

usefulness. Hannah, the sister, married 

Evans. One of her sons. Rev. Shem Evans, was for 
forty-six years a Baptist pastor, six years at Milford 
Haven, Wales, and forty years at Bath, and Ashby- 
de-la-Zouch, in Leicestershire, England. Another son, 
Asa J. Evans, was for many years an eminent solici- 
tor at Cardigan, and mayor of the city in 1877-1878. 
John J. Jones, son of the venerable Thomas Jones — 
brother of Rev. Richard Jones — held the office of regis- 
trar, and was mayor of Cardigan about 1870. A 
grandson of Thomas Jones, Rev. R. Roberts, B. A., a 
man distinguished alike for piety and talent, was for 
many years pastor of a Baptist church at Notting- 
hill, London. 

Rev. Richard Jones began his ministerial work in 
Wales, in company with his devout and talented friend, 
Rev. Titus Lewis, afterward of Carmarthen. They 
were licensed to preach about the same time, and 
wrought in unison in their chosen work for some years. 
He married Mary George, also a native of Pembroke- 
shire, born in 1758. Of their children born in the 
City of Cardigan, was Jane, born July 31, 1785, mar- 



322 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

ried Robert M. Jones in 1807, and died in Trenton 
township, May 3, 1850; David R., born 1787, mar- 
ried Susan Thomas, of Remsen, and removed with 
his family to Granville, Ohio, in 1839, where he died 
in 1852; Elizabeth, who died in Philadelphia, about 
1802, aged twelve years; Ann, bom in April, 1792, 
married Richard Jones, of Trenton Falls, N. Y., and 
died at Prospect, October 27, 1889; Hannah, born 
1797, married Jenks Jenkins, of Prospect, and died 
there November 17, 1874; Mary, bom in 1798, married 
Rev. David Morris, a Baptist minister, and died at 
Prospect in 1829; and Rev. Thomas Z. R. Jones, born 
in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1803. 

On the fourth of June, 1800, Rev. Richard Jones 
with his family sailed from Liverpool, in a vessel that 
had once been a man-of-war, called "Orono," com- 
manded by Captain Jackson, of New Castle, whose 
first mate was a Mr. Durham. After a long and 
tedious voyage, in which for many weeks their rations 
were cut down to one ounce of flour and half a sea- 
biscuit a day for each on board, they landed at the 
Arch street wharf, Philadelphia, October 3, 1800, 
having been fourteen weeks on the voyage. For it trans- 
pired that the captain of the Orono was a man of 
dissolute habits who, before he left Liverpool, had 
lost at the gaming table all of the passage money that 
he had collected, and fearing arrest by the owners of 
the vessel after arrival here, he delayed arrival it was 
found, by changing the vessel's course each night. 
Being steeped in rum, his naturally violent temper 
became fired to a degree unbearable, his brutality to 
the ship's crew, insolence toward his passengers, and 
his insulting and malevolent bearing toward Mr. 
Jones after he had learned the latter's profession knew 
no bounds. He threatened to scuttle the ship, de- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 323 

daring that but for the cries of the httle children on 
board ringing in his ears, he would send them all to 
the bottom of the sea. Fearing violent death from the 
fury of this inhuman monster, or from the slower 
process of starvation, the crew was instigated by some 
of the passengers to seize him in one of his outbreaks 
of rage and place him in irons. Thus the ship was 
brought into port under command of the first mate, 
Durham. After their arrival, Mr, Jones was urged 
to lodge complaint against the captain, but he re- 
plied that he was only too thankful to have his family 
safe on land once more, and would leave for others 
to put into action measures to bring him to punish- 
ment, if they chose to appear against him. Captain 
Jackson was never allowed a command at sea again, 
and members of Mr. Jones' family frequently saw 
him in Philadelphia, a vagabond upon the streets; 
while the Orono, under a new commander set sail 
again but was lost at sea with every soul on board. 

Shortly after his arrival in this country Mr. Jones 
was installed pastor of a Baptist church at Great 
Valley (Dyffryn Mawr), near Philadelphia, and con- 
tinued there for nearly six years. In 1805 he made a 
journey to this section, where he found a number of 
Baptist families — some of whom had been members 
of his church at Great Valley — and a church of that 
faith in Steuben, which had been organized about 
three years previously. Urged to locate here and to 
become their pastor, he bought a small farm about 
half a mile south of Remsen village, on which a clearing 
had been made and a log house built by David Wil- 
liams, a former parishioner at Great Valley, and father 
of the late David H. Williams of Steuben, and later 
of Rome, N. Y. Returning to Philadelphia, Mr. 
Jones resigned his pastorate at Great Valley, and 



324 HISTORY OF RPIMSEN 

early the following year (1806) returned here with 
his family. Later he built upon his purchase a stone 
house and framed barn. The site of the location of 
his dwelling was marked until very recent years by a 
poplar tree and a few apple trees, at the foot of Pen-yr- 
allt, just north of the private way leading to Pen-yr- 
allt farm. Subsequently he added to his purchase 
another small adjoining farm, located east of the creek. 
The Second Baptist Church of Steuben (Capel Isaf) 
was organized in 1803, with twelve members, and upon 
his settlement here these had been reduced by death 
and removals to seven. He was installed as pastor 
shortly after his arrival, and continued in the office 
uninterruptedly for fifteen years. 

Mr. Jones' august and dignified bearing, coupled 
with the circumstance of his always wearing a long 
black robe when he administered the rite of baptism, 
won for him the title of "Priest," and he was generally 
known here as "Priest Jones." When the rite of 
baptism was to be solemnized, services were frequently 
held at his house instead of at the church, in Steuben; 
or, as often happened, the assemblage being larger 
than the house could accommodate comfortably with- 
in hearing of the speaker's voice, a pulpit and seats 
would be arranged in the barn. After the service, a 
procession usually formed and marched to the accus- 
tomed baptismal place, several rods distant, singing 
hymns as they advanced, the singers going before, 
followed by the black-robed "priest," his candidates 
for immersion, and the remainder of the congregation. 
It presented a solemn and impressive spectacle, and 
the effect produced by the Welsh choral voices in the 
open air was marvelously inspiriting. 

Whenever a young couple of restricted means would 
call at his home to be joined in wedlock, it was the 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 325 

custom of these good people always to provide a wed- 
ding supper — simple and unostentatious perhaps, but 
the best the house afforded. For twenty-two years 
subsequent to his retirement as pastor, Mr. Jones 
continued steadily in ministerial work here, preach- 
ing in surrounding districts and at intervals supplying 
the pulpit of his old church, administering the ordi- 
nances, and officiating at marriages and funerals up 
to about two months prior to his death, which occurred 
December 9, 1843. His wife died November 6, 1838. 
They are buried in Prospect Cemetery, where members 
of five generations of their descendants lie, and where, 
through the munificent gifts and an endowment fund 
provided by their grandson, Thomas C. Jenkins, of 
Pittsburg, Pa., these grounds have been greatly ex- 
tended and beautified. 

David R. Jones, son of Rev. Richard Jones, was 
born in Cardigan City, South Wales, and came to 
Remsen with his father's family in 1806. He pur- 
chased of "Stephen Buffington, July 13, 1820, one- 
half of Lot 32, of the Service Patent," lying a mile or 
more east of Remsen village on the State road, and 
which later was known as the Hugh Francis farm. 
Mr. Jones married Susan Thomas, and their children 
were Thomas D., a celebrated sculptor; Benjamin; 
Jeanette, who married John Williams; Ann, who mar- 
ried a Mr. Booth; Phoebe, who also married a man 
named Booth; David; Hiram; and Richard. In 1839 
Mr. Jones removed with his family to Granville, 
Licking county, Ohio, where he died in 1852, aged 
sixty-five years. 

Rev. Thomas Z. R. Jones, son of Richard and Mary 
(George) Jones, was born at Great Valley, Pa., July 
23, 1803. He received his education in the schools 
of Remsen and Trenton, and at Steuben Academy. 



326 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

He taught school in Remsen village and in various 
country districts, and when a young man was appointed 
a justice of the peace for the town of Trenton. His 
first wife was Eliza, daughter of William James, of 
South Trenton, by whom he had one daughter, Mary. 
At an early day, having been licensed to preach, he 
went to the Territory of Michigan, where he taught 
school and preached to the people in the sparse set- 
tlements of that new country. Returning to the 
east again, he was ordained and sent as a missionary 
to the same Territory. He died at Kalamazoo, Mich., 
July 2, 1876. The following concerning him is taken 
from the minutes of the Baptist Convention of the 
State of Michigan, for 1876:— 

"In 1835 Rev. Thomas Z. R. Jones, son of Rev. 
Richard Jones, came to Michigan Territory to take 
up his work. Years before he had visited it and marked 
it with his eye. He took the right wing of the little 
army of invasion that was strung along the River 
St, Claire; and back into the woods whither a settler 
had pushed, he preached in the wilderness and sought 
the sheep. There he nursed his sick, and alone and 
destitute buried the members of his young family. 
The church at China was a visible result of his efforts, 
and much seed for other results were sown. The 
missionary spirit thrusting him on, he reached the 
spiritual solitude between Jackson and Kalamazoo, 
and struck in on its eastern edge. Spring Arbor, 
Concord, Albion, Marengo, and Marshall, in turn 
responded to his work; and he saw the churches in 
each planted and getting growth, and watered by 
gracious revivals. Then he struck through to Grand 
Rapids, and was one of the first and best master- 
builders on the Baptist foundation there. The wife 
of his youth had followed her dead where privations 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 327 

come no more. With his little daughter, Mary, 
afterwards taken from him, and at length with his 
second faithful helpmate, he went to Kalamazoo, 
whence he has gone to and fro in his agency services, 
with occasional short pastorates so mixed in as not to 
break up his home — where so many youth of Kalama- 
zoo College have been succored — and has there steadily 
dwelt. All older Michigan is a checker-board, where 
his wheels have worn the marks, seeking supplies for 
the domestic mission and educational works; foster- 
ing also all the interests of our societies for evangeli- 
zation, foreign as well as home. His sympathies 
were broad as human want, his contributions constant 
and liberal; his business habits painstaking and just, 
and his heart sincere. It is forty-one years of good 
and faithful work in Michigan, and we believe was so 
pronounced upon as he appeared where we must all 
so soon appear." 

Thomas D. Jones, the sculptor, spent his youth 
and early manhood here, before the artistic cunning 
of his hand had revealed itself. He was taught the 
tanner's trade by Mather Beecher, with whom he 
lived for several years. With increasing years the 
bud of his genius began to unfold, and he longed for 
books and for time and opportunity to study them. 
He went with his father to Ohio, and there worked 
for a time as a stone mason on the Ohio canal, where 
many of the locks and aqueducts still bear his name. 
He taught school winters, and in 1841 went to Cin- 
cinnati to live, where began his real life work. Be- 
ginning as a marble cutter, after a year or two he 
commenced his art work in marble. In 1842 his first 
efforts in busts were produced, and then followed the 
numerous creations of his genius and skill, pronounced 
by judges to be some of the most beautiful produced 



328 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

in the United States. Among them may be men- 
tioned the Lincoln and Soldiers Monument in the 
rotunda of the capitol, at Columbus, for which he 
received $10,000; and a bust of Chief Justice Chase, 
executed under orders from Congress for the Supreme 
Court of the United States, at Washington, D, C. 
One has said of him: "Mr. Jones numbered his per- 
sonal friends by the thousand; many of them were 
the noblest, brightest and best of our nation's hon- 
ored sons. He had a large acquaintance with the 
actors and actresses of his day, and found a warm 
welcome to the hearths and homes of Clay, Corwin and 
Lincoln. He was a poet by nature, and no friend left 
his presence without feeling the fire of his poetic heart." 

THOMAS BURCHARD (or Birchard), was born 
at Roxbury, England, in 1595. He sailed from En- 
gland in the ship "Freelove," and landed at Boston 
in 1635. He is said to have been a man of wealth 
and to have removed early to Hartford, Conn. He 
died at Saybrook, Conn., in 1657. He was the pro- 
genitor of all the Burchards of New England. His 
children were Elizabeth, Mary, Susan, and John. 
The latter was the first county clerk of New London, 
Conn., and married Christy Andrews, their children 
being James, Abigal, Thomas, John, Joseph, Mary, 
and Daniel. James Burchard, son of the preceding, 
married Elizabeth Beckwith, March 17, 1697. Chil- 
dren: Elizabeth, James, Sarah, Matthew, John, Phoe- 
be, Sarah XL, and Rebecca. John, son of James Burch- 
ard, married Mary Baldwin in 1727. He died at 
Granby, Mass., in 1778. His children were John, 
Elias, Mary, and Jesse. John married Anna Barker, 
in 1759. Children: Anna, who married Perez Hitch- 
cock; Jabez, born May 16, 1765; Mary, born 1769; 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 329 

and Jonathan, who married Beulah Ely. He died in 
1839. The children of Jonathan were Ely, born in 
1788, died at Clinton, N. Y., in 1866; Letitia, born 
1790, never married; Horatio, born in 1792, died 
at Beloit, Wis., 1850; Jesse, born May 17, 1795, died 
in 1816; Louisa, born in 1802, married Walter Morgan, 
died in 1875; Nathan, born December 3, 1804, died 
July 13, 1880; and Mary Ann who married William 
Fellows, and died in 1842. 

Jabez, son of John and Anna (Barker) Burchard, 
was born at Bozrah, Conn., May 16, 1765, and mar- 
ried Lucina, daughter of David Barton, born in Granby, 
Mass., April, 1760. Their children were born as 
follows: Cynthia, May 22, 1787, married Eli Burr; 
Seneca Barton II., October 18, 1790, married Caro- 
line Chapin, of Springfield, Mass.; Theodore, March 
14, 1793, married Sophia, daughter of Zalmon Root, 
of Remsen; Sylvester, July 6, 1795; Roxana, October 
26, 1797, married Heman Ferry, of Remsen; Jabez, 
November 24, 1799, married Lucy Munger, of Marsh- 
all, N. Y., resided in Steuben and Remsen, removed to 
Cattaraugus county, thence to Fox Lake, Wis. ; Horace, 
September 19, 1801, married Susan, daughter of Judge 
Thomas H. Hamilton, of Steuben, resided in Remsen 
for some years, then removed to Vernon, thence to 
Hamilton, N. Y., in the early '40s.; John, March 5, 
1804; Lucina, October 8, 1805, married Ichabod Miller, 
of Marshall, N. Y.; Hannah, March 28, 1808, married 
Thomas Broughton White, son of Broughton White, 
of Remsen, removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., where she 
died; Charles Austin, born January 1, 1810, married 
Martha Pitcher, of Martinsburg, N. Y., resided in 
Remsen until 1839, when they removed to Hamilton, 
N. Y., and later to Beaver Dam, Wis., where he died; 
and Samuel Dickinson, born September 6, 1811. 



330 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Jabez Burchard came from Massachusetts about 
1806, and purchased of the executors of Baron Steu- 
ben a farm near Sixty Acres. Mr. Burchard was a 
blacksmith, and did especially fine work in that line. 
About 1824 he removed to Remsen village, and be- 
came a partner with his son Sylvester in the foundry 
and blacksmithing business. He removed to Hamil- 
ton, N. Y., in 1839, and died there January 2, 1844. 
His wife survived him about ten years. 

Sylvester, son of Jabez and Lucina (Barton) Burch- 
ard, was born in Massachusetts July 6, 1795, and came 
to Steuben with his father's family about the year 
1806. He married first, Spiddy Nash, of Massachu- 
setts, July 5, 1817. She died October 5, 1818, and 
on November 27, 1819, he married Sophia E. Bogue, 
daughter of Rev. Publius V. Bogue, of Saquoit, or 
Paris Hill, N. Y. She died January 14, 1822, and on 
November 29, he married Anna, daughter of John 
Piatt, of Remsen. In 1822 or 1823, Sylvester Burch- 
ard came to Remsen and rented a blacksmith shop of 
William Piatt, which stood on the north comer of the 
turnpike and the road leading to Prospect, opposite 
the Piatt house. He established the first and the 
second foundries ever built here. Shortly after taking 
up his residence in Remsen, he purchased a strip of 
land between the turnpike and the creek, south of 
the road to Prospect, and which extended along the 
highway and the creek for some distance south of the 
present corporation line. He built a shop on the 
south corner of the turnpike and the Prospect road, 
where he carried on blacksmithing, and later he en- 
larged it and engaged in the manufacture of plows. 
He also purchased a strip of land east of the creek, 
between the falls and the Prospect road. Here he 
built his blast furnaces and foundry. Much of this 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 331 

land is now occupied by the R. W. & 0. railroad right 
of way. In 1825-1826 he built the large framed 
house south of his shop, which for many years was 
the home of the late Rowland Anthony. Mr. Burch- 
ard sold all this property with the foundry to John 
Perry, of Utica, in 1835, and then built the large framed 
house on the Prospect road east of the railroad, lately 
owned by Deacon Hugh Hughes. He continued to 
reside in Remsen until March, 1838, when he moved 
upon a farm he had purchased at Hamilton, N. Y., 
where he carried on dairy farming very successfully 
until his death, December 30, 1851. He served in 
the war of 1812. 

Samuel Dickinson Burchard, D. D., was born in 
Steuben, September 6, 1811, the son of Jabez and 
Lucina (Barton) Burchard. After a common school 
education supplemented by attendance at academies, 
he began to teach, but was checked in this pursuit 
by an attack of asthma. With the hope of benefit- 
ing his health, he removed to Kentucky when eighteen 
years of age, and remained there as a student at Cen- 
ter College. He was graduated in 1836, and almost 
immediately after began to lecture, without pay, on 
religious subjects, temperance, and in opposition to 
slavery, meantime supporting himself by the work of 
his hands, and thus became known throughout the 
state. The young philanthropist removed to Dan- 
ville, Ky., during the first visitation of cholera in that 
section, and which proved fatal to many persons of 
all classes. He nursed the sick and buried the dead, 
when most of the theological students residing there 
had fled in terror. After a course of theology at 
Danville, Mr. Burchard received a license to preach, 
granted him by the Transylvania Presbytery, in 1838. 

He was very popular and received many calls, of 



332 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

which he preferred one to New York city, because it 
gave him the advantages afforded by Union Theo- 
logical Seminary. His installation as pastor took 
place May 1, 1839. Dr. Burchard completed a pas- 
torate there of more than forty years duration. In 
1861 he was appointed chaplain of the American 
Church, in Paris, France; and in 1866 was made chan- 
cellor of Ingraham University. He did not permit 
these honors to interfere with his relations to his peo- 
ple, by whom he stood loyal notwithstanding many 
other flattering calls. After leaving the pastorate, 
Dr. Burchard accepted the presidency of Rutgers 
Female College. His honorary title of Master of Arts, 
was conferred by Center College, Kentucky, where 
he graduated; and that of Doctor of Divinity by Madi- 
son (now Colgate) University. He was a frequent con- 
tributor to periodicals, and published two books, one of 
which was republished in England. During the civil 
war he strongly denounced rebellion. He married Agnes 
M. Leeds, of New York city, in 1847, and five children 
were born to them. Mrs. Burchard died in April, 1883, 
and the doctor followed her September 25, 1891. 

WILLIAM PRICHARD (Y Glyn), a native of 
Carnarvonshire, came from Wales to Philadelphia in 
1800, and resided there and at Trenton, N. J., for 
about six years before he came to Steuben. The first 
gathering or "Big Meeting," of the Welsh Congre- 
gational Association of New York ever held in these 
parts was in session in Capel Ucha' on the day that 
the family arrived here, in 1806. Mr. Prichard mar- 
ried Elizabeth, daughter of William Williams, and 
their children were Ann, the first wife of Humphrey 
P. Jones, born in 1802; Elizabeth, born in 1804, mar- 
ried Owen Williams (Bryn Gola); Mary, who married 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 333 

Richard Davis; William, Jr., born June 26, 1808, 
died June 25, 1889, married Jane Williams, of Nefyn, 
Carnarvonshire, who died August 30, 1884, aged 
seventy-eight years; David, who married Mary, daugh- 
ter of William I. Lewis, Sr.; Griffith, who married first, 
Ann, daughter of Matthew Williams, and second a 
widow Jones; Catherine, who mamed Thomas 0. 
Roberts; Richard, who married Eliza Howell; Gwen, 
who married John D. Griffiths; and John, who died 
at the age of seven years. Mr. Prichard died in March, 
1854, aged seventy-five years. 

DANIEL THOMAS settled in Steuben in 1806. 
He was a stone-cutter, and helped construct the fine 
bridges that span the Schuylkill river at Philadelphia. 
He was the father of the late Thomas D. Thomas; 
Mary, wife of William Griffiths (Llanllawen) ; and 
Catherine, wife of William H. Thomas. 

ASA LEACH, from Belchertown, Mass., came to 
Remsen in 1806. His wife was Miriam Allen, a grand- 
daughter of Ethan Allen, of revolutionary fame. 
While the war of 1812-1815 was in progress, Mrs. 
Leach carried her silver spoons into the woods and 
buried them, fearing the enemy might invade this 
region and loot the dwellings of the inhabitants. About 
1820 Mr. Leach removed with his family to Boonville. 

JOHN MAC DONALD, who was a pioneer stone- 
cutter and stone-mason here, was of Scotch blood, 
and portrayed in his life and character many of the 
sturdy traits of his race. He located very early on a 
small place just west of the Herbert L. Davis farm, at 
the top of the hill. Here he built a log house, on the 
south side of the highway before the course of the 



334 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

road just at that point was changed to avoid the steeper 
grade over the top of the hill. The house was built 
with a door of sufficient width to admit a yoke of 
oxen, and great logs two feet or more in diameter and 
eight feet long were hauled into the house by oxen 
and rolled into the mammoth fire-place, to serve as 
back logs for a huge fire. These logs would last in 
their position against the back of the chimney some 
times six or eight days. He was a man of good heart 
and generous impulses, and was especially kind to 
itinerant and needy workmen of his trade who hap- 
pened this way, always taking them in and providing 
them with work. He had a large family of whom we 
have been unable to get a complete record ; but among 
his children were John, Jr., Alexander, Jerothman, 
Julia, James (who became a prominent contractor 
on various public works), and Mary, who married and 
lived in Gloversville. Another daughter married 
Joseph Owens, of Boonville, and was the mother of 
Ephraim, Philip and John Owens, all of them active 
men of fine business ability. Mr. MacDonald died 
September 9, 1824, and was buried with Masonic 
rites in a cemetery about a mile and a half south of 
Remsen, between the highway and the R. W. & 0. 
railroad, all traces of which are now nearly obliterated. 

HEMAN FERRY, son of Noah and Hannah (Mon- 
tague) Ferry, was bom in Granby, Mass., August 4, 
1786. About 1808 he came to Steuben, where an 
uncle. Rev. Joseph Montague, had preceded him, and 
where he engaged in teaching school. He was a young 
man of quick perceptions and clear foresight, and it 
was not long before he succeeded to the proprietor- 
ship of the first store established in Remsen. This 
was about 1811. He is reported to have been a man 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 335 

affable and obliging in manner, enterprising and hon- 
orable in business, and a public-spirited citizen. He 
was active in the first religious organization of the 
village, serving for several years as superintendent 
of its Sunday school. It is regretted that a more com- 
plete account cannot be given of the life of one who 
was so important a factor in the early days of Rem- 
sen's history. About 1840 he removed with his family 
to Utica, where, in partnership with his eldest son, 
he engaged in banking. He was one of the few mer- 
chants of Remsen who retired with a competency be- 
fore business misfortunes or utter bankruptcy over- 
took them. On March 13, 1814, he married Roxana, 
daughter of Jabez Burchard, of Steuben. Their 
children were Lucina Ann, born June 10, 1815, died 
April 18, 1832; William Henry, born April 10, 1819; 
and James Harvey, born January 24, 1823. Mrs. 
Ferry died January 19, 1844, and Mr. Ferry died 
March 31, 1856. Shortly after his death the sons 
removed to Chicago, and became active and promi- 
nent in the business affairs of that city. 

REV. WILLIAM MONTAGUE FERRY was born 
in Granby, Hampshire county, Mass., September 8, 
1796. At fifteen years of age he was a slight, frail 
youth, not physically adapted to the rugged toil of a 
farmer's life; he became ambitious to pursue a col- 
legiate course, and to obtain a thorough education. 
His father's limited means forbade a hope for his as- 
sistance to forward this ambition; nor could he win 
his father's consent to his purpose until he offered and 
promised that under no circumstances would he so- 
licit aid from any one, or from any benevolent society, 
but would rely upon his own personal endeavor. His 
first employment with an education in view was here 



336 HISTORY OF RRMSEN 

in Remsen. His older brother, Heman Ferry, who was 
settled in mercantile business in this village, offered 
him a place in his store as clerk, and he remained here 
for three years. At eighteen, he accepted an offer 
of a place as tutor from his uncle, Joseph Montague, 
Sr., who was teaching a female seminary at Kinder- 
hook, N. Y. He taught there one year then went to 
Plainfield, Mass., where he prepared for college. While 
pursuing his preparatory studies, he took charge of 
the Sanderson Academy, at Ashfield, thus providing 
for needed expenses. At twenty-one he was ready to 
enter upon his collegiate course. An incident, to 
illustrate his character, as well as to show his finan- 
cial condition at this time, may not be amiss. After 
determining upon the place for continuing his studies, 
he visited the old homestead in Massachusetts, and 
solicited his eldest brother to take him and his bool^ 
to Union College, Schenectady, N. Y. With his 
one horse and wagon, this brother made the then 
long journey, kindly giving the student the needed 
help. In crossing a defective bridge near Schenectady, 
the horse's leg was broken, and another horse must 
be bought to fill the place. The young student in- 
sisted that as the journey was made for his sake, he 
must bear the loss. The older brother not knowing 
the extent of his funds, yielded, and the sixty dol- 
lars, necessary to buy a horse, was all he had, save a 
single sixpence; and this was the amount with which 
he began his first term in college. He found in a 
leading professor in Union College, one to whom he 
could state his condition and purpose, who offered 
him employment, which he filled at intervals, thus 
paying his own way through his college course. He 
entered the sophomore class and graduated in his 
twenty-fourth year. He pursued a course of theo- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 337 

logical study two years at New Brunswick, N. J., 
and was licensed and ordained by the Presbytery of 
New York, in 1822. He then offered his services as 
a missionary to the United Foreign Missionary So- 
ciety, expecting to be sent to a foreign field; but while 
awaiting the necessary preliminaries for this purpose, 
he was appointed to explore among the Indian tribes 
of the northwest; which exploration resulted in the 
establisment of the Mackinaw Mission, on the Island 
of Mackinac. He remained at Mackinaw a year in 
laying the foundation for this important mission; and 
returning to Massachusetts, he was married at Ashfield, 
to Amanda, eldest daughter of Thomas White, and 
with his wife returned to Mackinaw in 1823. On 
November 2, 1834, he moved his family to the east 
shore of Lake Michigan and with two others laid out 
a village and called it Grand Haven. His was the 
first white family to settle in that county. He was 
a shrewd financier and became interested in mercan- 
tile enterprises and lumbering, thus laying the founda- 
tion for a fortune, which popular rumor placed among 
the millions. He died December 30, 1867. In his 
will he left $150,000 to various charitable, educational 
and religious societies. His son, Thomas White 
Ferry, was four times elected to Congress, twice elected 
United States Senator, and was acting Vice-President 
of the United States during the Hayes-Tilden contest 
in 1876-1877. 

GRIFFITH I. JONES, familiarly called "Guto 
Jack," was one of several who came from Wales with 
their families and settled here in 1808. His farm was 
at Pen-y-bont (Bridge End), at the top of the hill 
north of the intersection of the road leading past 
Pen-y-caerau to Fairchild Corners, and that which 



338 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

branches east from the turnpike near the Phelps place. 
His house was located on the west side of the road, at 
the top of the hill. In the spring or summer of 1836, 
having heard that there was a Welsh estate in chan- 
cery in England, to a part of which he was entitled, 
he took ship for Liverpool accompanied by his son- 
in-law, William Evans, a son of John Evans (Boon), 
of Trenton. They reached their destination duly, 
and Mr. Evans remained in Wales with his father- 
in-law for many weeks; but realizing that they might 
be detained there indefinitely if they accomplished 
the purpose of their journey thither, he urged Mr. 
Jones to return. The latter, however, reluctant to 
forego the prospective inheritance, declined to return. 
But having left a family of eight young children at 
home, Mr. Evans decided to take passage in a vessel 
then about to sail for New York, and which chanced 
to be the ill-fated "Mexico," Captain Winslow, which 
was wrecked off the coast of Long Island on the night 
of January 2, 1837. 

As this disaster occurred in mid-winter, the suffer- 
ings of the unhappy crew and passengers from the 
cold was distressing. Owing to the roughness of the 
sea no pilot could reach them, and they were fated to 
perish within sight of land, even within hearing of 
many people on shore. Their calls for help and dis- 
tressful wailings were clearly heard far into the night 
by many living on Long Island, but who were power- 
less to help them. Before the dawn their cries had 
ceased, and their sufferings were ended. 

The vessel was wrecked on Hempstead beach, and 
of the one hundred and fifteen who perished, sixty- 
two bodies were recovered, and were buried in one 
grave at Near Rockaway, in Hempstead township. 
One who visited the scene of the wreck, writing at 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 339 

that time says: "Forty or fifty bodies, of both sexes 
and all ages, were lying promiscuously before me, all 
frozen as hard as marble, and all except a few, in the 
very dresses in which they perished. Some with their 
hands clenched as if for warmth, and almost every 
one with an arm crooked and bent, as it would be in 
clinging to the rigging. On the arms of some were 
seen the impressions of the rope which they had clung 
to, the mark of the twist deeply sunk into the flesh, I 
saw one poor negro sailor, a tall man, with head thrown 
back, lips parted and his now sightless eyes turned 
upwards, and with arms crossed over his breast as if 
imploring Heaven for aid. One female had a rope 
tied about her leg, that had bound her to the rigging; 
and one little fellow had been crying, and was thus 
frozen with the muscles of the face drawn, as we see 
children when crying. There were a brother and 
sister dashed upon the beach, locked in each others 
arms. All the men had their lips firmly compressed 
together, with the most agonizing expression upon 
their countenances I ever beheld. One little girl 
had raised herself upon tiptoe, and thus was frozen 
in that position." 

The report that Mr. Evans, who was well known 
and popular here, had suffered such a terrible fate, 
cast a shadow of the deepest gloom over the entire 
community. Money was speedily collected among 
his friends, and the late John Perry, of Trenton, a 
brother-in-law of Mr. Evans, was sent to the scene of 
the disaster to bring the remains home; but the vic- 
tims of the wreck had been buried before he reached 
there. Mr. Jones never acquired the property he 
went to claim, nor did he return to this country, but 
died in Wales, it is said, in a public workhouse, having 
exhausted his means in the venture. 



340 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

WILLIAM EVAN, or Bevan, as he was commonly 
called, came from Carnarvonshire and was an early 
settler near Ty Coch Corners. His wife, Eleanor 
Williams (Careg Lefain), he married in Wales. Their 
children were Mary, who married Griffith Williams 
(Y Gof), who removed to Cattaraugus county about 
1852; Jane and Catherine, twins, the former the wife 
of Capt. Thomas Abrams, the latter the wife of Wil- 
liam H. Hughes; Isaac, who married Julia, daughter 
of Tyler Mitchell and removed to Cattaraugus county; 
and William, who married Margaret Williams. 

EDWARD PRICE, SR., was bom in Hanfyllin, 
Montgomeryshire, North Wales, in 1776, and early 
in the nineteenth century emigrated to America, set- 
tling at Remsen. He purchased the Stephen Hutch- 
inson farm about half a mile north of the village where 
he lived for many years. The place is still known to 
the older residents as the "Price Farm." He died De- 
cember 20, 1855. Edward Price, Jr., married Rachel, 
daughter of Rev. John Roberts, and their children were 
John R., Evan R., Edward R., Hannah, who married 
Frank Evans, and David R., who married Hannah, 
daughter of John 0. Roberts, of Remsen. 

ZALMON ROOT, son of Gideon and Huldah (Nel- 
son) Root, was born in South wick, Mass., January 
14, 1770. He married first Prudence Pomeroy, of 
Suffield, Conn., and second, Clarissa Dunn, of South- 
wick, Mass. Their children were Sophia, who married 
Theodore Burchard, and who died in 1850; Fanny, 
first wife of John Smith; Zalmon D., who married 
Helen Gardner, of Hamilton, N. Y.; Clarissa, first 
wife of Thomas Hawley, who died in 1845; and Lu- 
cretia, second wife of Thomas Hawley. "Squire," 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 341 

or "General" Root, as he was commonly called, was 
an enterprising man and a representative citizen in 
the earlier history of Remsen. Broughton Green, 
writing of him says: "General Root was one of the 
wealthiest, if not the wealthiest citizen of the town- 
ship about 1830, and owned the best horses, cattle 
and sheep in this section. His son, Zalmon D., born 
in Remsen October 23, 1811, was an enterprising 
farmer, who removed with his family in April, 1857, to 
Illinois, locating at Maine, Cook county, where his 
sons became prominent, and were extraordinarily 
good men." 

COL. MATHER BEECHER came from Russia, 
Herkimer county, to Remsen, in 1812, having bought 
that year the Noble & Blue tannery which had been 
established here a few years prior to that date. Mr. 
Beecher engaged extensively in the manufacture of 
leather, also boots and shoes. During his residence 
here, which covered a period of over fifty years, he 
was ever foremost in all work for the welfare and ad- 
vancement of the community, and prominent in all 
good work. He married Sally Booth, and their chil- 
dren were Sarah, who married Dr. Luther Guiteau, 
Jr., of Trenton; Eliza, who married a Mr. Burley; 
Abbie, who married Frank Buckingham; Jerome, 
who married a Miss Cobb, of Geneva, 111.; and George, 
who died in boyhood. About 1863 Mr. and Mrs. 
Beecher removed to Chicago, to reside with their 
son, and both died there. 

JAMES BEAURHYTE settled in Remsen village 
at an early day. He built a house on Main street 
just north of the lane which leads to the steam mill, 
where he lived for many years. His children were 



342 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Catherine, who married a Mr. Crosby; Ambrose, of 
Willow Vale, N. Y.; James, who died October 14, 
1842, aged twenty-one years; Augustus, and Delos. 
The latter was a harnessmaker here during most of 
his life. He married Sophia Hatch, and about 1864, 
removed to Hudson, Wis., where he shortly after 
died. He had two sons, who became merchants; Ran- 
dall, of Minneapolis, Minn., and Frederick, of Hudson 
and River Falls, Wis. The latter married Anna, 
daughter of Albert Hinckley, of Prospect, N. Y. 

REV. CHANDLEY LAMBERT was born in Al- 
ford, Mass., March 27, 1781, and at the age of twenty- 
seven entered the Methodist ministry, in which he 
labored zealously for about twenty years. He was 
a circuit rider of the Black River Circuit in 1810, 1814 
and 1822. He preached here in Remsen and surround- 
ing districts not far from 1820, and lived in a house 
that stood on the east side of the turnpike, north of 
the village, and a short distance north of the Nathan 
Phelps property, near the bank of the creek. He was 
a resident here for many years, and subsequently 
removed to Lowville, where he died March 16, 1845. 

DAVID MANUEL came to Remsen with a large 
influx of Welsh settlers in 1808. He died here August 
8, 1852, aged eighty-five years. His son, John, re- 
moved to the west about 1857. 

JOHN L. JONES came from Wales about 1809, 
and settled on the road to Prospect upon the R. R. 
Roberts farm, adjoining the farm now owned by his 
grandson, John L. Jones. His children were Wil- 
liam, who died in Milwaukee, Wis., John L., Owen 
L., Samuel, Robert, Henry, Elizabeth (Mrs. Henry 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 343 

P. Jones), Zephaniah, a merchant of Waterville for 
many years, and Laura. Owen L. married Martha, 
daughter of Robert Abrams, and their children were 
Ellen, Margaret, John L., Dorothy, Robert, and Henry. 
John L. married Catherine, daughter of Elias R. 
Jones, and their children were Leah (Mrs. George 
Owens), and Owen L. 

MOSES W. PRINDLE, from New England, was 
an early settler here, at first occupying a house belong- 
ing to William Piatt, located south of the Piatt house 
and a little north of a point opposite the house occu- 
pied for many years by Rowland Anthony. He was 
a blacksmith and plied his trade in a shop which also 
was owned by Mr. Piatt, and stood on the north cor- 
ner of the turnpike and the road to Prospect leading 
past the J. G. Jones stone house. In 1823 Mr. Prin- 
dle built a house in the village, on the site of the home 
of the late Dr. Reed, but close upon the bank of the 
creek; and also built a blacksmith shop, on the east 
line of this lot. His children were Betsy, wife of 
Philetus Newcome, who was a cabinet-maker of Tren- 
ton and whose workmanship in the shape of tables, 
sewing stands, chests of drawers, etc., are pieces still 
picked up here by lovers of the antique; Sophronia; 
Walker; Samuel; Gaylord; Timothy; and one other 
daughter, whose name is not known to the writer. 

ELISHA LARABEE settled on the road from Fair- 
child to Bardwell. He had four children: William, 
Samuel, Ezra Lorenzo Dow, and Clementine. 

THE NICHOLS FAMILY was originally from 
Connecticut, and some of them settled in the Mohawk 
country before coming to Remsen township. There 



344 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

were three brothers who came here early, Caleb, 
Thomas and Garner, and about the same time there 
came also two married sisters, a Mrs. Scranton and 
Mrs. Chambers. Caleb was the father of the late 
Smith Nichols, and located at Fairchild. Thomas, 
or "Uncle Tom," as he was familiarly known, was 
the father of Morey, Sr., Mrs. Judson Witherell, Mrs. 
John Miller and Mrs. Isaac Worden. Thomas and 
Garner settled at Ninety Six. Morey, Sr., was for 
many years a justice of the peace in that section of 
the township. His children were Caleb; Abbie, who 
married John Billsbury; Harriet, who married Solo- 
mon Halliday; Morey, Jr.; Harvey; Huldah; and John. 

EVAN OWENS, son of John H. and Jane Owens, 
was born in Carnarvonshire, February 27, 1800. He 
had three brothers, Owen, Thomas and John, all of 
whom came to this country with the father's family 
in 1801, and located at Philadelphia, Pa. In October, 
1812, they came to Steuben, and the following April 
to Remsen, having purchased a farm at Fairchild. 
John H. Owens, the father, was a weaver, and his 
daughter Lucy was an expert at the loom, turning out 
very artistic fabrics in both wool and linen, some of 
which may still be found here. Evan Owens was 
one of the substantial men of the township, for many 
years a school teacher, a justice of the peace, and 
town commissioner of schools. He married first, 
Hanorah, daughter of Bohan Smith, by whom he had 
nine children: and second, Catherine, daughter of 
David Prichard, by whom he had one daughter, who 
married Charles Phelps. 

HUGH HUGHES (Sir Fon) was born in Anglesey, 
Wales, and in his early years followed the sea. He 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 345 

came to New York, and, in 1807, married Elizabeth 
Williams, remaining there several years. Their chil- 
dren were William H.; Ann, born December 26, 1810 
Robert H.; David, who died in infancy; David, 2d 
John; Mary E., who married William Roberts; Sarah 
Priscilla; Harriet, who married Humphrey Williams 
and Joseph H. About 1816 the family moved from 
New York to Remsen, locating near Fairchild. At 
that time this section was a dense timber tract, and 
Mr. Hughes went to work, cleared his land, and had 
a fertile farm. He built the stone house afterwards 
owned by the late Jerome Witherell, and for many 
years kept here "in the wilderness a lodging-place 
for way -faring men," where eight of his children 
were born, and where the mother died January 2, 
1832, aged forty-seven years. Hers was one of the 
first burials at the original location of Capel Coch, 
in Steuben. Mr. Hughes subsequently married a 
Mrs. Howell, and removed to Remsen village, where 
he died September 3, 1870, aged ninety-one years. 
He and his second wife are buried in Fairchild Ceme- 
tery. For many years he was a "butter merchant," 
taking the whole season's output from dairies and 
shipping it to New York on sale. On one occasion 
having contracted heavily with the farmers of the 
surrounding country and taken their butter to New 
York, he found the market glutted, and could realize 
scarcely anything on it. The thought that he had so 
little with which to reimburse the farmers for the 
product that had cost them almost an entire year's 
hard labor, preyed on his mind, and when he re- 
turned after an absence of two or three months his 
hair had turned perfectly white. For many years 
he was a deacon of the Baptist church in Remsen, as 
were successively his son William H., and his grand- 



346 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

son Robert H. Hughes. Ann Hughes married Rob- 
ert W. Roberts, in March, 1834, and he died at Rem- 
sen October 14, 1860, aged fifty-three years. The 
widow died at Holland Patent in December, 1891, 
aged eighty-one years. 

JAMES OWEN came from Carnarvonshire, North 
Wales (Pen-y-caerau Farm), in 1817, and settled on 
the John L. Jones place near Prospect, where, in 1822, 
he built the stone house that is still in use. His first 
wife was Mrs. Ann Perry, a widow with three children, 
and the children bom to them were Owen, who re- 
mained in Wales; William J., who married Margaret, 
daughter of Rev. William G. Pierce; John, who died 
at the age of ten years; Margaret, who died at the age 
of one year; Josiah, who married Nancy Jones; James 
who maiTied first, Catherine, daughter of John T. 
Hughes, and second, Jane, daughter of Edward Jen- 
kins, widow of Thomas Roberts (Pen-y-caerau); 
Margaret, 2d., who remained in Wales; Janet, who 
married John 0. Roberts; and Obadiah J., who mar- 
ried Mary, daughter of Edward Jenkins. For his 
second wife Mr. Owen married Jane Roberts, by whom 
he had four children: Elizabeth, who married Grif- 
fith Edmunds; Catherine, who married John Prich- 
ard; Hezekiah, who married, first, Sarah, daughte of 
Robert Owen, and second, Janet, widow of John R. 
Jones; and Nehemiah. 

EDWARD EDWARDS came from Montgomery- 
shire, Wales, in 1817, and located at Sixty Acres, 
where he carried on the business of wagon-making 
for many years. He married Jane Parry, who, when 
a young woman came to reside with her aunt, Mrs. 
William Robotham, in Steuben. Their children were 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 347 

Mary, who married Robert P. Williams; Jane, wife 
of William W. Thomas; Ann, wife of Josiah Roberts, 
of Rome; Catherine, who married Joshua M. Lewis; 
Hannah, who married John W. Lewis; Edward, who 
died in Montana; Blanche, wife of Robert C. Owens, 
of Clinton, N. Y.; and Maria, who married John P. 
Samuel. Mr. Edwards died July 19, 1854, aged sixty- 
three years; and his widow died March 15, 1865, 
aged seventy years. 

WILLIAM GRIFFITH came here in the early 
years of the last century, but the exact year of his 
coming we have been unable to learn. However, he 
was here prior to 1817, and settled on a part of Lot 
160 of Steuben's Patent, later known as the Hugh R. 
Jones farm at the top of the hill, south of the farm 
owned by the late Dr. Everett. Children: Griffith; 
William; Miriam, who married William Jones (Farm); 
John W.; Ellen, who married Benjamin Perry, of 
Trenton; Abdon, who died December 9, 1833, aged 
thirty-three years; Ann, who married John Powell, 
and whose children were Jane, wife of Rev. Owen 
Perry; John, Jr.; Charlotte, who married a Mr. Wil- 
liams; and Horace. Maria, daughter of William Grif- 
fiths married Robert Griffiths (Creugiau), who lived 
for some years on the Herbert Davis farm south of 
Remsen. Their children were Jane, who married 
William H. Williams; Maria; William; Benjamin; and 
Zephaniah. William Griffiths died May 19, 1840, aged 
seventy-six years; and Jane, his wife, died May 26, 1836, 
aged sixty-six years. 

LEWIS POWELL, from Wales, located in Steuben 
before 1817. He purchased that year a part of Lot 
160, of Steuben's Patent, also part of Lot 69, of Serv- 



348 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

ice's Patent. He built at the top of the hill north of 
the John Jones (Farm) property, where Richard E. 
Prichard now lives. The children of Mr. Powell 
were Lewis, Jr., John, Thomas, Joseph, James, and 
Rachel, who married a Mr. Church. 

JENKIN MORRIS came from Cardiganshire, South 
Wales, in 1818, and settled first at Pen-y-caerau, 
later removing to Ninety Six. His children were 
David; Evan; Ann, who married John D. Jones; Mary, 
who married William H., son of Humphrey P. Jones 
(Glyn); and another daughter who married Thomas 
Davis, of New York city. Mr. Morris died Septem- 
ber 28, 1854, aged eighty years. 

JAMES ALLEN was a grandson of Reginald Allen, 
of Colby, Norfolk, England; and came to Dedham, 
Mass., about 1637, probably with his uncle, Rev. 
James Allen, who was the first minister of Dedham. 
James Allen is first mentioned in the records of that 
town under date of April 6, 1638. His son Joseph, 
born June 24, 1752, married Hannah, daughter of 
William Sabin. Nehemiah, son of Joseph, born April 
22, 1669, married Mary Parker. Eliphalet, son of 
Nehemiah, born August 24, 1727, married first, Feb- 
ruary 8, 1753, Elizabeth Livermore; second, July 17, 
1764, widow Susanna Sallis; and third, March 12, 
1767, Sabra Lee, and had eight children by the three 
wives. Willard, son of Eliphalet and Sabra Lee Allen, 
was born in Sturbridge, Worcester county, Mass., 
August 14, 1770; maiTied there April 4, 1789, Hepsi- 
bah Walker. Their children, eight in number, were 
all bom at Sturbridge. Willard Allen removed to 
Remsen in 1818. 

Calvin, son of Willard and Hepsibah (Walker) 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 349 

Allen, born July, 22, 1791, married Polly Leach, of 
Belchertown, Mass., November 15, 1812, and came to 
Remsen with his family in 1818. For about three 
months after his arrival here, he made his home with 
his father-in-law, Asa Leach, near Bard well's Mills, 
who lived in a log house formerly occupied by Enoch 
Hall, father of James and Raymond Hall, who were 
early settlers here. Mr. Allen then moved to the 
turnpike north of Remsen village, near the Lemuel 
Hough place; then, nearer the town, while he was 
building a home for himself in the village. This was 
the house owned and occupied for many years by the 
late Josiah Griffiths, now the office of B. K. Brown & 
Son; and was the first house built in the village east 
of the creek. Being a carpenter by trade, Mr. Allen 
built many of the earlier houses in and about the 
village, and made many caskets for the dead. He 
was for many years chorister and deacon of the En- 
glish Congregational Church, the first religious organ- 
ization in the village; and was one of seventeen com- 
posing the first temperance society in the town. In 
1832, or thereabout, he built, and installed machin- 
ery in a butter-tub factory on Alder creek. Not 
getting from that stream the supply of water required 
to run this factory, he removed the plant to Forest- 
port, on Black river, which was then a part of Rem- 
sen township. While building a house for himself 
in Forestport, he cut his leg with a chisel, and from 
this injury was a great sufferer and a cripple during 
the rest of his life. In 1854, the injured leg was ampu- 
tated, and he survived the operation only four days, 
dying at Forestport on January 31, 1854. He was a 
member of Rising Sun Lodge, F. & A. M., of Remsen, 
while that lodge existed, and the Masonic Order con- 
ducted the services at his burial, under the auspices 



3SO HISTORY OF REMSEN 

of Boonville Lodge. Mrs. Allen died in Boonville, 
in 1843. Their children were Lucinda, who married 
William Dowman, and removed to Michigan; Eveline, 
who married Nathaniel Rockwood, Jr., and removed 
to Union City, Pa.; Harriet, who married George 
Kent, and lived at New York Mills; Julia, who never 
married; Pamelia (Mrs. McPherson), who removed 
to Michigan; and Calvin Winthrop, who married 
Mary J. Rockwood, and removed to Union City, Pa. 

OWEN RICHARDS, bom in Merionethshire, North 
Wales, came to America in the same vessel with Dr. 
Daniel Roberts, in 1818, and died in Steuben, March 
10, 1830, aged sixty-nine years. Mr. Richards first 
located at Holland Patent; but finding that ague was 
prevalent in that section, he removed his family to 
Steuben, where he stopped for a time with one Ellis 
John-Perry, on or near Pen-y-mynydd. Later he 
located on French Road, where he purchased new land 
at five dollars an acre. He built a house north of the 
farm now occupied by his grandson, Lewis Richards, 
and the place for many years was the Richards home- 
stead. Owen Richards married Elizabeth Jones, a 
sister of Rev. John Jones (Ramoth), an elder and the 
founder of the Sandemanian sect in Wales. Mrs. 
Richards died July 6, 1847, aged seventy-nine years. 
Their children were John, Joseph and Benjamin 
(twins), Richard, Elizabeth, and Owen. Benjamin 
married Ann, daughter of John Roberts (Ty-niwliog), 
and their children were Joseph, a physician in Belle- 
vue Hospital, New York city, who died at the early 
age of twenty- three years; Lewis; Owen, a physician 
of Trenton; Jonathan, a Congregational minister, who 
died at St. Johns, Mich.; David, residing in Alabama; 
and two who died in infancy. Lewis Richards married 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 351 

Jane, daughter of Griffith and Jane Wheldon, and 
their children were Benjamin; Elnora; Griffith; Joseph, 
a physician, now located in Ohio; and Edna, wife of 
Dr. Morey, of Remsen. 

GRIFFITH METHUSELAH JONES was an early 
settler in Trenton township. He came here from 
Wales, and located just west of the Griffith Hughes 
(Wilson) farm, and owing to a defect in title, he was 
obliged to pay for his farm a second time. His chil- 
dren were John, William Meth, and Ellen, who mar- 
ried Thomas Jones (Ty Crois). 

EVAN OWENS, who settled just west of the Grif- 
fith Methuselah Jones farm, married Ann Roberts. 
Their children were Jane, who married Thomas Ed- 
munds; Thomas; Ann, who married Richard James; 
William F., who for many years was a prominent 
merchant in Boonville; Owen E.; and Mary. Mr. 
Owens died February 21, 1869, aged eighty-three years, 
and his widow died December 27, 1879, aged eighty- 
six years. 

JOHN EVANS, a wood turner, lived in a log house 
at the "lime kiln" place, south of the Pirnie house. 
He had a son and two daughters. The son, Benjamin, 
went to Chicago in the embryo days of that western 
metropolis, and was never heard of again by his east- 
ern friends. John Evans, coming home late on a 
bitter night in winter about 1820, went into his log 
stable, where in the morning he was found frozen to 
death. Prior to coming to the "lime kiln" place, he 
made a clearing and built a log house on the John E 
Thomas farm, a mile farther south. 



352 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

WILLIAM ALLEN was an early settler in Remsen, 
locating about a quarter of a mile north of P^'airchild 
Corners, and immediately north of the Nathaniel 
Rockwood farm. Mr. Allen's farm was once owned 
by Solomon Frame, but whether before or after Mr. 
Allen's occupancy we are unable to learn. In later 
years the place was owned by David Davis (Frame). 
William Allen was of the Free Will Baptist persuasion, 
and a regular attendant at the church of his choice, 
traveling eight miles to Russia nearly every Sunday 
for this purpose. His children were Saloma, who 
married a Mr. Burrows, of Rome; Amanda, who mar- 
ried Schuyler Wheeler; Elmira, who married a Mr. 
Sanderson; Amos, who married Ann, daughter of 
Jeremiah Bonner; Luther, who married Lydia A. 
Burrows; Lorinda; Lucy; Rebecca; Lovina, who mar- 
ried Dr. Cordell, of Boonville; and Fanny, who married 
a Mr. Skiff. 

JOHN HATCH, originally from Connecticut, after- 
ward residing at Floyd, came to Remsen at an early 
day. His children were Susan, the second wife of 
Jacob Lewis; Dama (Mrs. Turner); Sophia, wife of 
Delos Beaurhyte; Sarah A., wife of Dr. George P. 
Bridgeman; and one son, John, Jr. 

WILLIAM PERRY came from Caer Mer, Llanen- 
gan, Carnarvonshire, North Wales, on the same ves- 
sel with Dr. Daniel Roberts, in 1818. His wife, Mary, 
was a sister of the doctor. He purchased and cleared 
a farm on the Glynn road, afterward known as the 
Tinman place. They had four children, Robert, 
Anna, John and Jane. Robert was a skillful surgeon 
whose proficiency in that line was far in advance of 
all in the profession in this section in the early days. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 353 

He located in Steuben, where he died June 10, 1826, 
at the age of thirty-one years, leaving one son, John, 
who removed to the west many years ago. Anna 
Perry married Griffith J. Griffiths (Crydd), and Jane 
married Owen Roberts (Tinman). The children of 
Griffith J. and Anna (Perry) Griffiths were Jane, 
Mary, Ann, John, Margaret, William, Robert G., and 
Griffith. 

Indians were rather frequent visitors to these parts 
at the time of Mr. Perry's settlement, and each winter 
parties of them camped near his farm, along Cincinnati 
creek where they trapped and hunted. About this 
time Mr. Perry had a pig confined in a low log en- 
closure or pen in the little clearing he had made in 
the wilderness, and one night, hearing a disturbance 
there, he lighted a lantern and went out to investigate 
the cause. Arriving on the scene he was amazed 
to see his winter's supply of pork disappearing into 
the darkness, held in the close embrace of a huge bear, 
and the distressful cries of the captive porker resounded 
through the forest long after he was lost to view. 

SAMUEL ROBY settled in the section known as 
Ninety Six, about 1820. He took up a large tract of 
land, and hired upwards of twenty men to fell and 
burn trees in order to obtain ashes to make potash. 
For many years he manufactured that commodity 
very extensively. His children were Aaron, Samuel, 
Jr., Stephen, Jacob, and Betsy. 

BENJAMIN PERRY, father of the late Benjamin 
and John Perry, of Trenton, was an early settler in 
Trenton township, locating on a small farm later 
known as the Wilson place, opposite the farm of Grif- 
fith Hughes. Benjamin Perry, Jr., married Ellen, 



354 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

daughter of William Griffiths, of Steuben. He was 
long a deacon of the Welsh Congregational church, 
Capel Ucha', He died February 19, 1871, aged seventy- 
nine years, his wife having died April 22, 1850, aged 
fifty-eight years. John Perry married Mary, daugh- 
ter of John Evans (Boon), and their children were 
Mary, first wife of Morvin M. Jones, of Utica, son of 
Judge Pomeroy Jones, the first historian of Oneida 
county; John, of California; Capt. Benjamin, of An- 
napolis, Md.; Sophia, who married William Vincent; 
Cornelius and George, who removed to the State of 
Indiana; Luther, who was drowned in childhood; 
Dr. Winfred; Josephine; and Anna, widow of the late 
Dr. Crane, of Holland Patent. 

DR. DANIEL ROBERTS, who emigrated from 
Llaniestyn, Carnarvonshire, in 1818, died in Steuben, 
September 13, 1820, aged forty-five years. His chil- 
dren were Mary, wife of Griffith Evan Griffiths; Jane, 
wife of James Davis, of Pen-y-mynydd; and William 
D. While the latter did not devote his time to the 
practice of medicine, he showed much skill in the 
treatment of chronic diseases, and was very success- 
ful. He married Mary, daughter of Philip Thomas. 
Their children were Daniel, a soldier of the civil war, 
who died in the service; Edwin; John; George; Mar- 
garet, who married Richard Whitman; Josephine, 
who married Owen R. Thomas; Roscoe C, of Remsen; 
and Mary Jane, wife of Owen J. Evans. 

OWEN ROWLAND came from Wales to Phil- 
adelphia, thence to Trenton township, locating on the 
road leading from the Prospect station of the R. W. 
& 0. railroad to the village of Prospect. His daughter 
Jane married Robert R. Jones and had a family of 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 355 

several children. The family lived for many years 
on the Rowland homestead. 

WILLIAM FRANCIS, from Wales, was an early 
settler in Steuben. His children were Joseph L, a 
prominent farmer and very capable business man 
and long-time resident of Remsen village; George; 
Wallace; and Jane. 

Wallace Francis, son of William and Ann Francis, 
was born in Steuben, January 24, 1822. When a young 
man he came to Remsen to take the position of first 
station agent for the Utica & Black River railroad, 
which position he held for about fifteen years. In 
the early '70s, in partnership with John B. Jones he 
opened a bank at Independence, Iowa, which they 
conducted for several years. Always a shrewd finan- 
cier, Mr. Francis left much wealth, a portion of which 
built and endowed the Didymus Thomas Library, in 
Remsen. He married Mary Ann, daughter of Didymus 
Thomas. He died May 14, 1895. 

OWEN CHARLES, from Wales, was in Steuben 
prior to 1819. About that time he removed to the 
easterly part of Remsen township, where he located 
on Lot 27. He had several children who became 
allied, through marriage, with well-known families of 
this section. 

JOHN HUGHES came from Aberdaron, Carnarvon- 
shire, in 1818, and settled about a mile and a half south 
of Remsen village, on a farm adjoining on the north 
that owned by Horace Powell. His wife was Cather- 
ine Owen. Children : Robert J. ; Hugh J. ; Eleanor, who 
married Lewis Jones; John; Jane, who married Wil- 
liam Williams; and David. Hugh J. married Eliza- 



3S6 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

beth, daughter of Robert M. Jones, and their chil- 
dren were John; Jane, who married Matthew Jones; 
Cornelius; Lewis; Lydia, who married Evan Thomas; 
Robert — who spells his name "Hewes" — a physician 
of Rockwell City, Iowa, who married Martha, daugh- 
ter of William Lewis, of Steuben. 

JOHN ROBERTS (Ty-niwliog) came from Wales 
in the early part of the last century, and bought a 
small farm about three miles southwest of Remsen, 
adjacent to the Dr. Maurice district. His children 
were John; Robert; Henry; William; Ellen, who mar- 
ried Griffith Francis; and Ann, who married Benja- 
min Richards. 

RICHARD W. JONES (French Road) emigrated 
from Carnarvonshire, locating in this section. In 
1820 he took up one hundred acres of land on French 
Road, that vicinity being then a dense wilderness. 
He married Elizabeth, daughter of Owen Griffiths, 
and their children were Peter; Owen; Josiah; William; 
Ann, who married first Griffith Jones (Farm), and 
second a Mr. Dean; John; Cornelius; and Elizabeth, 
who married first George Nichols, and second, Francis 
Perry. 

GRIFFITH JONES (Ty'n Cae) came from Wales 
about 1818, and lived in Steuben. He died Decem- 
ber 11, 1826, aged thirty-three years; and Mary, his 
wife, died October 22, 1855, aged seventy-seven years. 
Mary, their eldest daughter married and removed to 
Utica. Ellen, another daughter, died July 26, 1891, 
aged seventy-two years; and Gwen, died October 29, 
1891, aged sixty-eight years. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 357 

ROBERT OWEN came here from Wales about 
1820, He married here Jemima, daughter of Robert 
Jones (Tyddyn-y-Fehn). Children: Ellen, who mar- 
ried Thomas Powell; Ann, first wife of Rowland An- 
thony; Sarah, first wife of Hezekiah Owen; and Rob- 
ert, a Baptist minister, who moved west. 

REV. EVAN ROBERTS was born in Hanfyllyn, 
Montgomeryshire, North Wales, and came to Steu- 
ben in 1820, during the latter part of which year he 
was chosen assistant to Rev. William G. Pierce, pas- 
tor of Capel Ucha', in Steuben; and was engaged "to 
preach half the time to the English, on the Turn- 
pike." This was to the English Congregational 
Society, who held their meetings in the old school- 
house in what was later Remsen village. He was a 
most earnest advocate of the temperance cause, and 
active in all good work. His wife was Hannah, daugh- 
ter of Rev. John Roberts, of Steuben. On September 
10, 1836, while in Albany he was murdered and robbed, 
his body being found in the Hudson river. He was 
forty -six years of age at the time of his death, and 
his widow died May 10, 1853, aged fifty-two years. 

WILLIAM WHELDON, from Carnarvonshire, 
Wales, after a voyage of eleven weeks landed at Phil- 
adelphia, in June, 1817. In the winter of 1820 the 
family came to Steuben, stopping first at the Morris 
Ellis place, opposite Capel Isaf, and later settled near 
Pen-y-graig, remaining there two years. Later Mr. 
Wheldon bought of Stephen Brooks a farm on the 
hill north of Steuben Corners, which had been cleared 
by one Newton Dennison, though no buildings had 
been erected on the place, and in April, 1828, the 
family moved upon this farm. 



358 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

ROBERT WILSON, a carpenter and cabinet- 
maker, settled on a small place opposite the farm now 
occupied by GrifRth Hughes. He married Cather- 
ine, a widowed sister of Daniel Thomas, of Steuben, 
she having one son, John Lewis, 

MORGAN OWEN, son of Owen and Margaret 
Owen, was bom in Carnarvonshire, Wales, and about 
1820 emigrated to this country with his parents, 
three brothers, and sisters. He married Ann, eldest 
daughter of Griffith O. Griffiths, by whom he had two 
daughters, Helen and Elizabeth. In his youth Mr. 
Owen learned the trade of shoemaker in the shop of 
Col. Mather Beecher, later established himself in the 
boot and shoe business here and continued in it until 
a few years prior to his death, which occurred April 
1, 1882, in his sixty-seventh year. He was twice 
appointed postmaster, serving from 1861 to 1866, and 
from 1867 to 1881. 

WILLIAM LEWIS (Llanbadam Fawr) was bom 
in Cardiganshire, South Wales, and emigrated with 
his family to this country in 1822. He purchased a 
farm which had been largely cleared and improved 
by Edward Jones, a retired New York brewer. This 
farm, located about two miles southeast of Remsen, 
is still called "Llanbadarn," and is now occupied by 
the Richard Owens family. Mr. Lewis was in a class 
above the rank of yeoman in Wales, and entitled to 
write "Gentleman" after his name, as was formerly 
permissible in Great Britain for all classes above the 
yeomanry. The estate of Llanbadarn Fawr, in Wales, 
was very ancient and in early times rather extensive. 
The head of each successive generation down to and 
including William Lewis, bore the title of "Squire," 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 359 

and it was obligatory on them to be in attendance at 
the Assizes. The house at Llanbadarn Fawr was of 
stone, cruciform, and built in the eleventh century, 
and hence was about eight hundred years old when 
the family left it. The children of Mr. Lewis were 
John, Hugh, Thomas, Mary, William, Richard, George, 
and Lewis, of whom only the last three ever married. 
George married Janet Thomas; Richard married 
Mariette Evans; and Lewis married Jane, daughter 
of Robert R. Jones. Mr. Lewis died February 25, 
1850, aged eighty years; and Ann, his wife, died July 
19, 1847, aged seventy-four years. 

THOMAS T. JONES, son of John Maurice, of Plas- 
Newydd, Aber, Carnarvonshire, North Wales, mar- 
ried Eleanor Rowlands, daughter of Rowland Wil- 
liams (Tyddyn Isaf), Llanllechyd, Carnarvonshire. 
Their children were Hugh T. Jones (Y Coed); John 
T.; Griffith; Elizabeth, wife of Ellis Jones (Tyddyn- 
y-Felin); Ellen, second wife of Rowland Anthony; 
Catherine, wife of Thomas E. Williams (Bryn Gola); 
and Margaret (Mrs. John Johns). The family came 
to this country in 1828, though the eldest son, Hugh 
T., came in 1823, living for some years with Capt. 
Simeon Fuller. Thomas T. Jones died December 
23, 1843; and his widow died August 7, 1847, aged 
seventy-two years. 

CALEB STEVES, a justice of the peace and hence 
generally known as "Squire" Steves, owned and oc- 
cupied the Smith Nichols house, about half a mile 
north of Remsen. His first and his second wife were 
daughters of Barnabas Mitchell, the first settler in 
Remsen township. Mr. Steves was a large stock- 
holder in the Northern Plank Road Company, which 



36o HISTORY OF REMSEN 

eventually proved a financial failure, and for some 
years he kept the toll-gate which stood hear his house. 
He left here about 1856 or 1857, when an old man, to 
live with relatives at Geddes, now a part of Syracuse, 
and died there. 

WILLIAM ROBOTHAM came from South Wales 
to Philadelphia in 1790. Here he married Ann Wil- 
liams, a native of Carnarvonshire, who came to Phil- 
adelphia in 1795. They came to Steuben about the 
year 1818, we believe, for in that year a letter was 
received by the Welsh Baptist church of Steuben from 
the Baptist church at Blockley, Pa., stating that 
"as our beloved brother, William Robotham, has re- 
moved in your vicinity, and requests from us a letter 
of dismission to join your body. We cheerfully com- 
ply with his request, etc., etc., signed William E. 
Ashton, Pastor." Mr. Robotham was a tailor, and 
continued in that business at Sixty Acres for many 
years. 

HUGH JONES, familiarly called "Huey," came 
from Wales to Philadelphia between 1790 and 1800, 
and became an early settler in Steuben, locating on 
a small place about half way between Capel Ucha' 
and the residence of R. Fremont Jones, his house 
standing about twenty-five rods north of the highway. 
In Philadelphia he married Catherine Williams, a 
sister of Mrs. William Robotham. 

THE MAURICE FAMILY early was prominent 
in northern Trenton. The father was called Morris 
Griffith, while the children took the name Morris, 
later spelled "Maurice," for their surname. Chil- 
dren: Griffith, who married Catherine, daughter of 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 361 

Hugh Jones (Bod Isaf), and Robert. They located 
west of the Hughes (Wilson) place. 

JESSE SMITH, born in Hallowell, Mass., married 
Hannah Farnsworth, born in Stoddard, Mass. After 
marriage they went to Mt. Holly, Vt., to live, sub- 
sequently removing to Ludlow, Vt., and thence came 
to Remsen, about 1825, locating at Ninety Six. Their 
mode of conveyance was an ox-team, a horse, for 
leader, and a covered emigrant wagon, the latter con- 
taining all the worldly goods they possessed. On 
their journey they stopped to refresh themselves at 
a tavern kept by Matthew Hoyt near Prospect, at 
the junction of the State road and that leading past 
Pen-y-caerau church. The place subsequently for 
many years was known as the Jenkins homestead. 

JACOB LEWIS was born near Amsterdam, N. Y., 
September 14, 1795, and died at Yorkville, N. Y., 
September 13, 1872. On May 17, 1817, he married 
Martha Wood by whom he had two daughters, both 
dying in infancy. Mrs. Lewis died June 22, 1826, 
and Mr. Lewis married second, Susan Hatch, born 
February 22, 1806. Their children were William E., 
born December 22, 1827; Martha (Mrs. Wilgus), 
bom November 22, 1829; Mary Cornelia, born De- 
cember 5, 1831, married William S. Evans; Laura 
Elizabeth, born November 17, 1833, died December 
31, 1848; George LaFayette, born March 13, 1837; 
and Jacob Jefferson, born March 6, 1842. William 
E. Lewis married first, Eliza, daughter of Oliver Higby, 
by whom he had one daughter, Lida, who married 
first, W. Sawens, and second, Claude Walker. For 
his second wife Mr. Lewis married Laura E., daugh- 
ter of the late Chester Wells, of Trenton. When a 



362 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

young man Mr. Lewis taught school, later became 
proprietor of a hotel in Remsen, and subsequently 
engaged in the same business at Waterville, and 
Yorkville, in this county. 

WILLIAM WILLIAMS (Tociau) came from Car- 
narvonshire about 1825. He married here Cather- 
ine, daughter of William Roberts (Trefach), and their 
children were Ellen, Isaac, William, and Mary. Mrs. 
Williams died January 5, 1841, and her husband sur- 
vived her nearly twenty years. 

WILLIAM S. RICHARDS (Penrhiwder) came 
from Llancaer, near Pwllheli, North Wales, in 1828. 
He settled first about two miles south of Remsen vil- 
lage, on the road leading to the Prospect station of 
the R. W. & 0. railroad, a short distance from the 
turnpike. He later moved to the vicinity of the 
Wetmore lot, near the Higby tavern. He married 
Mary Williams, in Wales, and their children were 
Richard; William; Jane, who married Josiah Davis; 
Ellen, who died at the age of twenty-six years; Eliza- 
beth, second wife of Charles 0. Charles; Sarah, who 
married Richard Williams; Robert; and Thomas. 
The last named married Jeanette, daughter of John 
O. Roberts, by whom he had two children, Howard 
and Jeanette. William married Sarah, daughter of 
Richard M. Jones, removed to Millen's Bay, on the 
St. Lawrence, and their children were Ella, Frank, 
George, Jeanette and Cora. 

WILLIAM ROBERTS (Mark), from Wales, set- 
tled in east Remsen. His children were William, 
who married Sarah Roberts (Felin); John 0., who 
married Jeanette, daughter of James Owen; Griffith; 



HISTORY OF REAISEN 363 

Mary, who married John Roberts; and Thomas 0., 
who married Catherine, daughter of WilUam Prich- 
ard (Y Glyn). 

EDWARD JENKINS, from Picketston, parish of 
Llanamais, Wales, arrived in this country July 23, 
1823. He located on a farm about half a mile north- 
east of Remsen village which was settled first by a 
man named Storms, and later owned successively 
by Henry P. Jones and Thomas Philip Thomas. His 
children were Margaret, who married a Mr. Alexander; 
Ann, who married a Mr. Gary, and moved to Chicago; 
Edward; William; Catherine; Elizabeth, who mar- 
ried a Rev. Whitehead; Thomas; Mary, who married 
Obadiah J. Owen; Jane, who married first, Thomas 
Roberts, and second, James Owen; George; Celia, 
wife of Evan Jones; and Maria, wife of Benjamin F. 
Gray. The family removed to Utica, where Mr. 
Jenkins died. 

FREDERICK WILLIAM WALL was born in 
Hamburg, Germany, about the year 1775, and when 
seventeen years old shipped with Captain Cook as 
cabin boy, and was with the latter on his voyage 
around the world. After retiring from the sea, he 
settled at German Flats, Herkimer county, where he 
married Margaret Keller. There were born to them 
ten children — seven sons and three daughters. The 
sons were John, who married Betsy Crimm, of Canajo- 
harie, N. Y.; Godfred, who married Polly Wilcox, of 
Remsen; Lawrence, who married Laura Sanderson, 
of Remsen; William, who married Betsy Ross, of Cana- 
joharie; Peter, who married Nancy Ingersoll, of Rem- 
sen; George, who married Delia Ross, of Canajoharie; 
and Michael, who married Mary Ann Roby, of Rem- 



364 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

sen. The daughters were Margaret, who married 
Jeremy Wolover, of Herkimer county; Nancy, who 
married first, William Miller, and second, a Mr. Bill; 
and Betsy, who married Anthony Bronson, of Remsen. 
The family came to Remsen about 1825, and set- 
tled near Twin Rock Bridge, at Ninety Six. In 1832 
Mr. Wall was followed here by his son John, who also 
settled in the same locality, having a family of five 
children, and who served twelve months in the war of 
1812, with Cronk, of Delta, N. Y. Cronk was the last 
survivor of that war, dying at the age of one hundred 
and fifteen years. 

WILLIAM ROBERTS (Trefach) came from Pen- 
y-graig, in the parish of Llangwnad, Carnarvonshire. 
He sailed with his family from Pwllheli in the brig 
"Gomer," Captain Prichard, in the latter part of 
May or the early part of June, 1827, and after a voy- 
age of four weeks landed in New York. A daughter, 
Catherine, had preceded the family here by several 
years, and lived with an aunt, the wife of William 
Evan, or Bevan, near Ty Coch Corners. Before the 
arrival of her father's family, the daughter had mar- 
ried William Williams (Tociau) of Steuben, and it was 
to her home that they came. Later they occupied a 
house which stood a short distance north of the farm 
owned by the late Dr. Everett, and after residing there 
for a few months bought a farm north of Fairchild 
Corners. Mr. Roberts married Mary Williams (Careg 
Lefain) of Carnarvonshire, and their children, all born 
in Wales were : Catherine ; Mary, who married in Wales 
William P. Williams, and came to this country in 1831; 
William, Jr., who married Ann, daughter of Timothy 
Griffiths, of Steuben, died May 8, 1833, aged twenty- 
seven years, his widowsubsequently marrying John Rob- 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 365 

erts (Felin); Robert W., who married Ann, daughter of 
Hugh Hughes; Isaac W., who married Mary A., daugh- 
ter of Robert M. Jones; Henry W., who married Jane, 
daughter of Moses Jones; Griffith, who married Jane, 
daughter of John Evans, of Trenton; and John, who 
married Ellen, daughter of Humphrey Roberts, an 
Elder of the Sandamanian sect and removed to Catta- 
raugus county in the early 50's. They also had a 
foster son, Griffith G., who became a merchant in 
Utica, and in later life served for several years as 
charity clerk of that city. William Roberts, Sr., 
died at East Remsen, from the effects of a fall, 
February 17, 1831, aged fifty-six years. His widow 
died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. William P. 
Williams, in Trenton, December 23, 1844, aged 
sixty-eight years. They are buried in Capel Ucha' 
Cemetery. 

GRIFFITH W. ROBERTS was born at Tanfon- 
went, Carnarvonshire, North Wales, January 16, 
1802. When a young man he emigrated to America 
and located at Mobile, Ala., where, in partnership 
with a young friend he engaged in business. But 
the death of his partner occurring within a few years, 
he came north and located at Remsen where he engaged 
in mercantile trade, and became active and prominent 
in the business, social and religious life of the commun- 
ity. He married here Sarah, daughter of Rev. Wil- 
liam G. Pierce, of Steuben. Mr. Roberts died in Rem- 
sen March 6, 1881. 

JONAH HOWE began his business career in Rem- 
sen, as a clerk for Andrew Billings. Afterward he 
was of the firm of Howe & Billings, the latter being 
John Billings, of Trenton, and later he was of the firms 



366 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

of Hawley & Howe, and Howe & Douglas, commission 
merchants of New York city. He married Sarah, 
daughter of John Billings, and for his second wife, 
Nancy, daughter of Dr. Luther Guiteau, Sr., of Tren- 
ton, Mr. Howe was very successful in business, and 
amassed considerable wealth. 

WILLIAM T. JONES (Tan-yr-allt), of Carnarvon- 
shire, set sail with his family for America in 1828, in 
what now would be considered a very inferior craft, 
called the "Swallow;" and, after a voyage of thirteen 
weeks landed in New York, whence they came to 
Utica by boat, the Erie canal having then been opened 
three years. Leaving his family in Utica, Mr. Jones 
proceeded on foot to Remsen, where he borrowed an 
ox- team of a friend, Owen Jones, who had preceded 
him here. Returning with this to Utica, he brought 
his family on to the home of Mr. Jones, where they re- 
mained for about three weeks, while he and his older 
sons were building a log house, on what was called 
the "Commons Clearing." They moved into the 
new house July 1, 1828. The township of Remsen 
even then was but sparsely settled, "clearings" be- 
ing connected by trails or blazed pathways through 
the forest. In this family were ten children, Elias, 
Hugh, John, William, David, Gwen, Ellen, Anne, 
Sarah and Jane. David, the youngest of the boys, 
born at Tan-yr-allt, August 3, 1825, remained at home 
and became the successor to the homestead, where 
he reared a family of eight children. 

JOHN L. HUGHES (San Pant) came from Wales 
about 1830, and settled first in Steuben, whence after 
a short residence he removed to Ninety Six. He 
maiTied in Wales and all his eight children were born 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 367 

there, as follows: John X.; Hugh; Jane, who married 
William Roberts; Ellis; William; Thomas; Mary, who 
married Robert Roberts; and Ellen, who married Ca- 
leb, son of Morey Nichols. 

OWEN M. GRIFFITHS was an early settler in 
this section. He purchased of Joseph Halstead the 
farm and inn located on the turnpike two miles south 
of Remsen, about 1830, and on April 29, 1835, he 
bought an adjoining ninety acres of Alexander Frazier 
and Filkins Beadle. About a year later Mr. Griffiths' 
hotel was destroyed by fire, but was immediately 
rebuilt. He married Mary Williams, and their chil- 
dren were Annie, who married Isaac Davis, a brush 
manufacturer, of Jersey City; Ellen, who married a 
Mr. Suiter, and also lived in Jersey City; William; 
Morris; Robert; and Elizabeth, who married Wil- 
liam Lansing, of Greenbush, N. Y. 

MAJ. ANDREW BILLINGS, of New England birth, 
came to Remsen between 1825 and 1830, engaged 
in mercantile business and farming, and eventually 
became one of the most prominent citizens of the 
community. He was the third postmaster appointed 
for Remsen village, continuing in the office for two 
terms, and was honored with other public offices. 
His first store was on the south corner of Main and 
Steuben streets, but before 1840 he built the large 
store building now owned by Dr. E. G. Williams and 
the house now occupied by Dr. Williams. He mar- 
ried Abigail, daughter of James Sheldon, a pioneer 
of the township. Their children were Abbie, who 
married Henry Murray, of Binghamton, N. Y.; Mary, 
who married first, William McK. Paddock, and second, 
Isaac W. England, of the New York Sun; Katherine, 



368 HISTORY OF REiMSEN 

who married Hugh Williams; Maria, who man-ied 
Robert Douglas, of Trenton; Andrew, Jr.; and L. Gui- 
teau, for many years paymaster in the United States 
Navy, who married a Miss Tremain, of Brooklyn, 
N. Y. Maj. Andrew W. Billings, son of Andrew and 
Abigail (Sheldon) Billings, was bom here. He went 
west when a boy, and at the outbreak of the civil war 
enlisted as a private from Iowa, rising to the rank of 
Major and acting Provost Marshal for the Western 
Division. For five years prior to his death he was 
engaged in business abroad, with headquarters in 
London, where he died. 

RICHARD THOMAS was born in Merionethshire, 
North Wales, in June, 1812, and came to this country 
in 1830. His wife, Dorothy, was born in Anglesey, 
Wales, also in 1812, came to America in 1830, and died 
the same year as her husband. Mr. Thomas learned 
the trade of tanner and currier, and for twenty-one 
years was employed by William J. Owen, of Steuben. 
In 1853 he moved to Remsen and built a tannery at 
Bardwell, where he conducted business until his death, 
September 15, 1872. Their children were John R.; 
Elizabeth, wife of William P. Jones; Mary, wife of Rev. 
Dr. Evan G. Williams, of Remsen; Bezaleel; Jefferson, 
who died in 1861; and Clinton R. 

WILLIAM P. WILLIAMS married Mary, daugh- 
ter of Williams Roberts (Trefach), and they came to 
this country in 1831. Their children were Hugh, 
Catherine, William, Mary, Anne, Henry and John. 
Hugh, the eldest, bom in Wales in 1828, went to Rus- 
sia, Herkimer county, when he had attained his ma- 
jority, where he became a very successful farmer, 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 369 

owning one of the finest farms in the county. About 
1870 he removed to Rome, engaging in the stone and 
marble business. He married first, Mary Ann Wil- 
Uams, of Herkimer county, who died shortly after 
their removal to Rome, leaving one son, Oscar D., 
now of Utica. His second wife was Helen, daughter 
of Orien Brown, of Canastota. He died in 1888. 
William P. Williams died April 24, 1873, aged seventy- 
four years, and his wife died March 18, 1872, aged 
seventy-two years. 

ROBERT HUMPHREY, son of Humphrey Jones, 
came from Aberdaron, Wales, in 1833, and settled 
at Ninety Six. His wife was Gaenor, daughter of 
Thomas Jones. Children: Catherine, John, James, 
Humphrey, Ann, and Thomas. Mr. Humphrey mar- 
ried, second, Rachel Reed. John Humphrey married 
Martha, daughter of Robert R. Jones. Children: Rob- 
ert, Jane, Lena, Ida, Ulysses S. and Lewis J. 

NATHANIEL MANCHESTER, son of Stephen, 
came from Rensselaerville, Albany county, between 
1830 and 1835, locating on a farm in Ninety Six, 
owned by Broughton White of Remsen. He married 
Hannah Lewis from the Mohawk Valley, who was of 
Holland Dutch extraction. Their children were 
Elizabeth, who became the wife of John Smith; Mary, 
first wife of James Michael; Lydiaette, wife of Peter 
Smith; George, a soldier of the civil war; William; 
John; and Lewis. The family removed to Syracuse in 
1847, where Mr. and Mrs. Manchester died. Stephen 
Manchester, father of Nathaniel, born in 1762, was a 
revolutionary veteran, and a pensioner here in 1840, 
living at the home of his son. 



370 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

REV. EVAN EVANS was born March 25, 1803, 
at New Castle, South Wales. He was educated for 
the ministry at Newtown, married Mary J. Williams 
at Bangor, North Wales, April 6, 1827, and set sail 
for America, arriving at New York May 29, the same 
year. They had six children — four sons and two 
daughters. Mr. Evans' first pastorate in this country 
was at Riverhead, L. I., whence he came to Remsen 
as pastor of the Whitfield Methodist Church in the 
village. He died at Radnor, Ohio, near the close of 
the civil war. His son, Edward Payson Evans, who 
was born here, is the distinguished scholar and writer. 
He graduated from the University of Michigan in 
1854, and soon after went south, where he taught school 
one winter at Taylorsville, Ky., going from there to 
Herndon, Miss., where he took charge of an academy 
for boys, also teaching the graduating class of young 
ladies of the Mississippi Female College, located at 
that place. After a year there he was appointed to 
a professorship in Carroll College, Waukesha, Wis., 
where he was also principal of an academy for young 
ladies. From 1857 to 1860 he studied in Germany, 
principally at the Universities of Gottingen and Munich. 
Returning to this country he was appointed professor 
of modern languages and literature at the University 
of Michigan. 

In 1868 Mr. Evans married Elizabeth Edson Gib- 
son, of New Hampshire, a woman of rare literary 
talent, who, in 1870 accompanied him to Germany, 
where he continued to live for thirty years, engaged 
in writing an elaborate history of German literature 
from the earliest times to the present day. Mr. 
Evans has also translated into English many German 
works of high character, and has written regularly 
for the North American Review, The Nation, the 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 371 

Atlantic Monthly, Unitarian Review, and many other 
American periodicals, being also a regular contribu- 
tor to many of the best journals in Germany. While 
residing abroad, he devoted much time to the study of 
Oriental languages, Sanskrit, Zend, and Modern Per- 
sian, and published many articles on Oriental subjects, 
both religious and literary. Mrs. Evans contributed 
verse and prose to newspapers and magazines, and her 
published books included several novels of merit. 

REV. MORRIS ROBERTS was born in the parish 
of Llangower, near Bala, Merionethshire, North Wales, 
May 10, 1799, and came to this country in July, 1831, 
the first two years after his arrival being spent in 
Utica. He had attracted much attention in Wales 
as a brilliant and eloquent preacher, and, it is said, 
caused considerable agitation among the Welsh Cal- 
vinistic Methodists because he was alleged to cherish 
views in regard to the Confession of Faith that were 
unorthodox, views that in these days would seem to 
be as conservative as they were advanced at that time. 
However, he made answer to charges of heresy, and 
his theological opponents pursued him with their 
charges to this country. The family moved from 
Utica to Remsen in 1833, and Mr. Roberts, after serv- 
ing the Calvinistic Methodist Church here for two years, 
severed his connection with that body and affiliated 
himself with the Congregationalists, establishing a 
church in the village, where he labored with great 
zeal and success for thirty-two years. He had a com- 
pelling and natural eloquence, which, added to a pow- 
erful personality, made him not only a strong man 
in the pulpit, but a factor and leader in public life. 
He died in Remsen, June 30, 1878. 



372 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Edward Roberts, son of Rev. Monis and Margaret 
Roberts, was bom in Denbighshire, Wales, Decem- 
ber 21, 1828, and came to this country with his par- 
ents in 1831, and to Remsen two years later. He 
attended the public school here during his boyhood, 
afterward was a student at Whitestown Seminary, 
and later matriculated at Union College, Schenectady, 
from which he was graduated. For a time thereafter 
he was engaged in educational work, subsequently 
entering upon a business career in New York city. 
Later he was appointed to a position in the New York 
custom house, where he spent twenty-five years, 
and afterward engaged in business in Remsen, and 
Waterville, N. Y., and at Dalton, Ga. As a vocalist 
and composer he gained much distinction. While 
residing in New York he was director of the choir in 
the church presided over by the late Dr. Samuel 
Burchard, and was also singing leader for several years 
in Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, during the pastorate 
of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. He gave instructions 
in vocalism, wrote note-books for use in singing-schools, 
composed the music for many of Miss Fanny Crosby's 
selections, and was the author of a Sunday school 
hymnal, and other musical works. The music of 
"Ninety and Nine," the popular religious song, was 
written by him, and his name may be found attached 
to many selections in church song books now in use. 
He married Mary Abbott, of New York, and their 
children were Edward M., Josephine M., and Wil- 
liam Abbott. Mr. Roberts died at San Diego, Cal. 

OLIVER HIGBY was an early resident of the 
township of Remsen, coming from East Creek, near 
Dolgeville, N. Y. For many years he was proprie- 
tor of a hotel located on the turnpike, five miles north 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 373 

of Remsen village. He married a Miss Hewitt, and 
they reared a family of twelve children, as follows: 
Sally, who married a Mr. Kibbe; Jeanette; Truman; 
George; Eliza, who married William E. Lewis; Maria; 
Mary Ann, who married a Mr. Knowlton; Merrill; 
William; Serena, who married a Dr. James; Richard; 
and James. After the death of Mr. Higby, his widow 
and sons conducted the hotel for several years. 

DR. GEORGE POMEROY BRIDGEMAN was 
born at Northampton, Mass., November 2, 1813. 
When he was twelve years old his father removed with 
his family to Leyden Hill, Lewis county, and George 
walked the entire distance, except a ferry ride across 
the Hudson river at Albany, driving two cows. He 
was the son of Oliver and Elizabeth (Pomeroy) Bridge- 
man, the former, born in Northampton, April 23, 
1786, and died in 1855; the latter, born in Westhamp- 
ton, Mass., March 22, 1787, died in 1853. On April 
10, 1835, Dr. Bridgeman married Sarah Ann Hatch, 
bom February 11, 1818. Their children were James 
Henry, born November 2, 1836, married Cordelia 
Paddock, July 4, 1857; George Oliver, born April 13, 
1841; Albert, born September 27, 1843, drowned 
at Remsen, November 9, 1847; Sarah E., born Sep- 
tember 5, 1850, married Albert E. Merrill, Novem- 
ber 17, 1868, and died August 25, 1910. 

After practicing dentistry in Remsen for many 
years. Dr. Bridgeman removed to Carthage, N. Y., 
and later to Boonville, where he resided until his death, 
May 29, 1885, and his wife died September 1, 1900. 

REV. ERASMUS W. JONES was born in the par- 
ish of Llanddeiniolen, Carnarvonshire, North Wales, 
December 17, 1817. On May 29, 1832, in company 



374 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

with his brother William, he sailed for America from 
the port of Carnarvon, and after a boisterous passage 
of nine weeks and two days landed in New York. 
Here he remained something over two years, when 
with the family of his brother John, who had preceded 
him to this country, he removed to Trenton. In the 
fall of 1838 he became a resident of Remsen, working 
here at his trade of tailor with the late John Edmunds. 
Mr. Jones was soon recognized as a singer of much 
merit, taking prominent soloist parts in concerts, and 
actively interesting himself as a worker in the tem- 
perance cause; also he identified himself with the anti- 
slavery movement, which then was decidedly unpopu- 
lar and called for no little moral courage in its adher- 
ents. The best citizens and most devoted church mem- 
bers viewed it with great displeasure, considering the 
Abolitionists a deluded and dangerous faction. But 
how these honest despisers of the anti-slavery cause 
eventually came to see their mistake, becoming fear- 
less defenders of what they had formerly denounced, 
are well known facts of general history. 

In the summer of 1848, Mr. Jones entered the min- 
istry of the English Methodist Episcopal church, in 
which regular ministry he was actively engaged for 
thirty-eight years. In 1852 his conference gave him 
permission to visit his native land, after an absence of 
twenty years. In 1864 he was appointed chaplain 
of the 21st Reg't, U. S. colored troops, and was hon- 
orably discharged at Charleston, S. C, April 25, 1866. 
In the fall of 1882, he became afflicted with almost 
total deafness, and was obliged to give up his regular 
pastorate. In 1885 he visited the Welsh churches of 
Ohio and Wisconsin, where he received the warmest 
welcome. During his absence of three months he 
preached on an average seven times a week, almost 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 375 

wholly in his native tongue. In 1887 he again visited 
Wales and the scenes of his childhood, a tour that 
gave him unbounded satisfaction. 

In 1856, Mr. Jones published "The Captive Youths 
of Judah;" in 1872, "The Adopted Son of the Prin- 
cess;" in 1886, "Llangobaith, A Story of North Wales;" 
and in 1890, "Gold, Tinsel and Trash, Stories of Coun- 
try and City." He was always an ardent friend of 
the Utica Eisteddfod, and once acted as its conductor. 
From year to year his Bardic Addresses before that 
body were well received, and he won many Eisteddfod 
prizes. At the international festival at Chicago, 
during the World's Fair, he took the one hundred 
dollar prize for the best translation into English of 
Llew Llyfo's dramatic poem, "Gwenwyfar," the ad- 
judicators speaking of the English version in terms of 
the highest praise; and subsequently he won a prize 
at the Pittsburgh Eisteddfod, for the best translation 
into English of an "Ode on Sympathy." His later 
years were spent in Utica. 

REV. ROBERT EVERETT, D. D., who in 1838 
came to Steuben as pastor of Capel Ucha', the Welsh 
Congregational church, was born in the village of 
Gronant, Flintshire, Wales, January 2, 1791. His 
life is briefly outlined in the history of his Steuben 
church, given elsewhere in these pages. He was a 
man of scholarly attainments, exemplary piety, and 
conscientious devotion to duty. Always in advance 
of his age, he was an earnest reformer and a leader 
in every good cause, and therefore by many was con- 
sidered an extremist. He lived, however, to see most 
of the reformatory measures he had given his ardent 
support, or had inaugurated himself, bear abundant 
fruit. On the questions of slavery and temperance, 



376 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

in the beginning he stood almost alone, though a 
large percentage of the people throughout this section 
became in sentiment and prosecution of the work en- 
thusiastically with him years before his death. His 
house is known to have served on occasion as a "sta- 
tion of the underground railroad," and, aided by him 
the fugitive slave found his way to the next "station" 
in his flight toward that goal, where, if he did but 
touch the soil and breathe the air, his shackles fell and 
he was free. 

Dr. Everett came to this country in 1823, in response 
to an invitation of the Welsh Congregational Church 
of Utica, and for nine years he was its pastor. His 
standing in this section was no less elevated nor his 
labors less fruitful of good than they had been in Wales, 
where the purity of his character and the earnestness 
of his ministry, combined with his scholarship, ren- 
dered him beloved and admired, his reputation ex- 
tending throughout the Principality. He was the 
author of a Welsh catechism for Sunday schools, first 
published in 1822, which has been in constant use 
since, and many editions have been issued in Wales 
and America; and, in collaboration with others, he 
compiled a hymnal which was long in use in Welsh 
churches. In January, 1840, he issued the first num- 
ber of "Y Cenhadwr Americanydd" (The American 
Messenger), a Welsh religious monthly magazine, and 
was its editor and publisher for thirty-five years. 
This periodical had a wide circulation throughout the 
states and territories, the Canadas, and Wales, reach- 
ing sometimes even to Australia and India. 

He married Elizabeth Roberts, of Rosa, near Den- 
bigh, Wales, August 28, 1816. Their children were 
Elizabeth, who married Rev. John J. Butler, D. D.; 
John R., who removed to the TeiTitory of Kansas in 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 377 

the days of the "Free Soil" controversy, and was closely 
associated with John Brown in efforts to restrain the 
extension of slavery into that territory; Robert, Jr., 
who died at the age of thirty-four; Lewis; Jennie; 
Mary H., a graduate of the New York Medical Col- 
lege and Hospital for Women; Sarah A., who mar- 
ried William Prichard; Henry M.; Anna L.; Cynthia; 
and Edward W., of Emporia, Kas. Dr. Everett 
preached his last sermon February 12, 1875, and died 
on the 25th of the same month. 

REV. THOMAS T. EVANS, son of Thomas and 
Elizabeth Evans, was born in the parish of Trefeglws, 
Montgomeryshire, North Wales, January 10, 1807. 
Early in the year 1840 Mr. Evans emigrated to this 
country, his first stopping place being Utica. On 
December 7 of that year he married there Catherine 
Davis, a native of Merionethshire, Wales, and soon 
after they took up their residence in Remsen. While 
here he continuously served the churches of Pen-y- 
graig and French Road. In 1847 he moved to Floyd, 
where he resided for twenty years, and preached for 
the church at Camroden. In 1870 he removed to 
Holland Patent, and for more than twenty years he 
preached in the Welsh Calvinistic church at that 
place, and at Floyd, Marcy, Bridgewater, Oriskany, 
Rome and other places. He died in Camroden in 
1898, aged ninety-one years. His children were 
Taliesin, formerly clerk of Oneida county; Gomer, of 
Angus, Minn.; Mrs. John Evans, and Mrs. Sarah 
Evans, of Camroden; Mrs. D. D. Williams, of Rome; 
and Mrs. D. Spencer Anthony, of Sioux City, Iowa. 

BENJAMIN F. GRAY was for many years a prom- 
inent and useful member of society in Remsen, where 



378 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

he carried on the merchant tailoring business. He 
married Maria, daughter of Edward Jenkins, removed 
to Racine, Wis., and later to St. Louis. Their chil- 
dren were William, George, Benjamin F., Jr., Willis, 
and Olin. Mr. Gray died in St. Louis December 28, 
1905, aged eighty-nine years; Mrs. Gray having died 
several years prior 

ELISHA BOOTH, son of Alexander Booth— the 
latter a revolutionary soldier — married Nancy Smith 
and came from New Haven, Conn, to Grant, Herki- 
mer county in 1812. The ancestors of Mr. Booth 
came to New England in 1637. About 1835, Elisha 
Booth took up his residence in Remsen village, and 
lived here until his death, about 1861. His children 
were Huldah, Stephen, Sackett, Sarah and James. 
Huldah died in Remsen, a few years since. She was 
a woman noted for her religious zeal and fervor. 

JOHN EVANS came here in 1839 from Llanerch- 
y-medd, Anglesey, Wales. His children were William 
S., Owen S., Ann and Mary. For about two years 
after their arrival here the family lived at Sixty Acres, 
when they moved to a small farm north of Remsen, 
thence to what is known as "Old Steuben Station," 
from there to Welsh District, and during the '50s took up 
their residence in the village. William S., born August 
14, 1825, in 1851 married Mary Cornelia, daugh- 
ter of Jacob Lewis, of Remsen. On January 4, 1854, 
there was born to them a daughter, Mary Cornelia, 
who married Fayette Patterson, of Milwaukee, Wis., 
where she died, leaving two sons. Mr. Evans was an 
active man throughout his life up to within four years 
of his death, which occuiTed at Hudson, Wis., Decem- 
ber 29, 1899. For some years prior to his removal to 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 379 

Hudson, in 1864, he was engaged in mercantile 
business in Remsen, in connection with his brother, 
the late Owen S. Evans, and was acting postmaster 
under Nathan Phelps, during President Buchanan's 
administration. Owen S. Evans was born in Wales, 
and came to this country with the family in 1839. 
For many years he was a prominent business man of 
the village, was postmaster for two terms, and a jus- 
tice of the peace for forty-five years. In the latter 
especially he proved a most efficient officer, having 
but two of his decisions reversed. He married Cather- 
ine, daughter of the late Jacob Williams, who was an 
early and respected resident of the township, by whom 
he had four children: Manzie, who married first, David 
R. Davies, and second, Alfred Langley; Jennie S., 
widow of the late John B. Jones, 2d.; John W., of 
Oswego; and George E., who died in infancy. 

THOMAS WILLIAMS, from Bryn Polyn, Carnar- 
vonshire, came here between 1835 and 1840. He mar- 
ried in Liverpool, England, Susanna Roberts, Novem- 
ber 26, 1821. Their children were Ann, (Mrs. Lewis) 
born December 16, 1823; John, born August 20, 1827, 
married first, Mary, daughter of Rev. David Morris; 
Caroline, born September 24, 1833; Thomas, January 
18, 1836; Price, February 20, 1838; Elizabeth, who mar- 
ried Lewis Francis, born January 13, 1841; and Louisa. 
Mr. Williams was one of the most scientific farmers of 
his time who came to these parts. 

JOHN PUGH was long identified with the business 
interests of Remsen, where he was engaged for many 
years in harness-making. He was born in Wales, and 
being left an orphan at an early age was adopted by 
the late Daniel Morris, of Prospect, with whose family 



38o HISTORY OF REMSEN 

he came to this country. He married Eleanor, daugh- 
ter of David Jones, a most estimable woman, who 
was ever first to lend a helping hand whenever sick- 
ness or death invaded the home of any in the com- 
munity. Their children were Maria, who died March 
18, 1908, aged sixty-four years; Nellie, who married 
Henry Jones, and who died July 7, 1870, aged twenty- 
two years; George E., who married Anna Wiggins, 
and died December 28, 1887, aged thirty-seven years. 
Mr. Pugh died April 5, 1890, aged seventy-eight; 
and his wife died October 7, 1879, aged sixty-seven 
years. 

JOHN R. JONES, son of Robert R. and Eleanor 
(Morris) Jones, of Steuben, married Jeanette, daugh- 
ter of Edward Jones. He was engaged in mercantile 
trade here for some years, but died a comparatively 
young man. Their children were Anson E., who 
served in the civil war, and who married Eugenia 
Slocum; John Rechab; Catherine A.; Margaret, who 
married a Mr. Beckwith; and Hon. Ray Jones, a for- 
mer Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota. Mrs, Jones 
was a woman of inestimable worth to the community, 
ever ready to proffer her services in sickness, and pos- 
sessing an aptitude and skill in the care of the sick 
to a degree that even trained nurses of to-day might 
envy. 

MAJ. SAMUEL DUSTIN was a unique character, 
widely known throughout this section. Originally 
he came from Connecticut and located a short dis- 
tance south of Boonville, where in early manhood 
he had a fine, well-stocked farm. But this he lost 
through misfortune, or more correctly through mis- 
management, in the train of which misfortune quickly 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 381 

followed; for the Major was one of those good-natured, 
companionable men, who could not resist the calls 
upon his comradeship by numerous congenial and 
only too often convivial associates, and neglected his 
farm to join in their revelries. Finally, after most of 
his worldly possessions had slipped from his grasp, he 
came to Remsen and bought a small plot of ground 
located about half a mile north of the village and east 
of the creek; and after the abandonment for religious 
purposes of the old "Red Church" that had been 
moved from Steuben, the Major bought the building 
for a dwelling and had it placed on his new purchase, 
and here was his home during the remainder of his life. 
We would observe that the Major's title was a legacy 
from "General Training" days, when he was a prom- 
inent figure in directing the maneuvers of the local 
militia, and, were they only available, his reminiscences 
of those times would now prove most entertaining 
reading. 

In stage-coach days it once occurred that a horse 
belonging to the Utica and Watertown line was ser- 
iously injured here in one of his hind legs, by stepping 
through the defective flooring of a bridge or a broken 
sluice, and was left by the stage-driver with instruc- 
tions that he be shot. It was a large, powerful animal 
of prime age, and the pity of it all touched the Major's 
tender heart; so he requested that the horse be 
turned over to his care, which was granted. Taking 
the horse home with him, he improvised a sort of tackle 
and sling in which he suspended the animal so that 
his feet barely touched the ground, and then he suc- 
cessfully set the broken or dislocated ankle, and thus 
gained for himself a horse that did him good service 
for many years, notwithstanding the fact that its 
injured foot "toed out" at an angle of about forty- 



382 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

five degrees, and its ankle was in circumference nearly 
the size of a four-quart measure. The Major never 
urged the steed to a gait faster than a walk, and it was 
generally supposed that this was his speed limit; but 
we were once slyly informed by one of the village 
swains, who had taken advantage of the Major's 
early retiring to "borrow" the horse from the pasture, 
to give a young lady companion an evening drive, 
that the animal was a fairly good roadster when put 
to it. 

In his later years the Major made a very superior 
ointment, which he sold in this and adjoining towns, 
and "Dustin's Salve" was among the proprietary reme- 
dies in many households. He also devised numerous 
little schemes for supplying his purse with ready 
money, among which we remember was the trapping 
of squirrels, which he sold to the village boys for pets. 
The Major was of medium height, stockily built, and 
somewhat round-shouldered as he became advanced 
in years. In cold weather he always wore a suit and 
overcoat made from the skins of animals, home-tanned 
with the fur on, and his snow-white head was usually 
graced with a silk hat of a style cotemporary with the 
Tyler administration, or possibly earlier. As he drove 
the large club-footed horse attached to a light wagon, 
or as he walked the village streets, he presented an 
oddly picturesque figure, thus clothed in the time- 
honored mode of the esquimaux dignified by that sym- 
bol of modern-day civilization, the silk hat. 

With his friends, and all who knew him were his 
friends, he was never at a loss for a joke, a funny story, 
or an amusing reminiscence; and when relating these 
his rotund figure would shake with his peculiar chuck- 
ling laugh, and the tears of mirth roll down his smoothly 
shaven ruddy cheeks, when he would then sit for a 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 383 

time ruminating in silence, except for a quiet chuckle 
now and then, his mind apparently dwelling on the 
incidents he had just related — and possibly comparing 
the circumstances of his earlier life with those of his 
later, for he would finally rouse himself and brush 
away the tears laughter had brought, exclaiming: 
"Well, they can never take the good times I've had 
away from me." 

Having become old and therefore unable to earn 
much, he found it necessary to ask for credit occas- 
ionally, and was forced now and then to borrow a 
little money. These favors were readily granted, and 
usually with little expectation on the part of those 
who favored him of his ever being able to repay the 
indebtedness. However, only a short time before 
his death, a sum of money unexpectedly fell to him, 
and without delay he sought out every creditor, pay- 
ing him in full. Although he kept no formal record 
of accounts, he missed none whom he owed, and he knew 
to a penny the amount of his indebtedness to each. 

His wife was Betsy, daughter of John Phillips, an 
early settler and prominent citizen of Steuben. They 
had two sons, Laurentius and Samuel, and possibly 
other children, though we have been unable to get 
their record. The Major died here in 1869 or 1870, 
aged over eighty years, and his widow survived him 
only a short time. 

WILLIAM HICKS, who for a long time was pro- 
prietor of the Black River House, four miles north 
of Remsen, on the turnpike, later kept a hotel in 
Remsen village, on the south corner of Main street 
and the road leading to the depot. This hostelry was 
generally designated "The Upper Tavern," or hotel. 
The children of Mr. Hicks were Ruth, Rensselaer, 



384 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Louise, Helen and William. He removed to St. Johns, 
Mich., about 1853. 

JOHN HICKS, brother of William and Thomas 
Hicks, all of whom were very early residents of Remsen 
and Trenton, kept the toll-gate at the upper end of 
the village, near the old covered bridge, for a time after 
the construction of the plank road. He was the father 
of John Hicks, a popular stage-driver of long ago, and 
also of the late Thomas Hicks, of Boonville. 

ALEXANDER PIRNIE, the fifth child of Alexander 
and Christina Pirnie, was bom in Cirgil, Perthshire, 
Scotland, March 25, 1824. He attended the parish 
schools both summers and winters until he was four- 
teen years of age, and then winters until he was twenty- 
one. He learned of his father the stone- cutting trade, 
which he followed during his stay in Scotland. The 
sandstone quarries of Cirgill, on the river Tay, rented 
of Lord Willoughby, had been worked by the Pirnie 
family continuously for a period of five hundred years. 
Mr. Pirnie sailed from Liverpool in 1848, landing in 
New York in May, and shortly made his way to North 
Western, where he was engaged for eighteen months 
in cutting stone for the locks of the Black River canal. 
He then superintended the construction of a bridge 
across James river, at Richmond, Va., and subse- 
quently engaged in railroad, canal, and other contract 
work. During the civil war he served in the 185th 
Regiment, New York Volunteers. He married first, 
in September, 1852, Mary McClellan, of Richland, 
Oswego county, who died in 1857, and for his second 
wife, Jane McClellan, her sister. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 385 

DAVID I. JONES (Smith Hill) came from Llanwch- 
y-llyn, or Bala Lake, Merionethshire, North Wales, in 
1824. He settled first on Deerfield hill, where he 
bought unimproved land. He married in Wales, 
Catherine Jones, by whom he had ten children. Their 
son, William J. Jones, came to Remsen in 1861, set- 
tling first at Bardwell. 

CEMETERY RECORDS 

These brief records gathered from the burials in the 
several cemeteries, comprise all the data we have been 
able to find concerning some of the early settlers. In 
Capel Ucha' Cemetery we find the following: 

John James died April 5, 1813, aged forty-four 
years; Mary, his wife, a native of Aberystwith, South 
Wales, died October 21, 1853, aged eighty-four years. 

William Roberts, from Llaniestyn, North Wales, in 
1818, died in Remsen March 27, 1866, aged eighty-five 
years; Elizabeth, his wife, died December 23, 1869, 
aged eighty-one years. 

Robert Prichard, from Wales in 1819, died April 
5, 1838, aged seventy-eight years; Ann, his wife, died 
September 9, 1839, aged seventy-nine years. 

David James, died April 5, 1809. 

Richard James, died October 15, 1862, aged forty- 
seven years. 

William Owens, a native of Coch Y Moel, Wales, 
died at Greenwich, N. Y., September 27, 1813, aged 
forty-three years; Ann, his wife, a native of Plas 
Newydd, died September 20, 1855, aged eighty-five 
years; Thomas, their son, died in 1899, aged ninety-two 
years — his first wife, Margaret, daughter of William 
and Gaenor Jones, died November 10, 1878, aged sixty- 
four years. The family emigrated from Wales in 1818. 



386 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

Griffith Jones, died January 12, 1821, aged seventy- 
four years; Gwen, his wife, died August 24, 1811, aged 
fifty-six years. 

CAPEL ISAF CEMETERY 

Griffith Parry, from Brecknockshire, Wales, in 1801, 
died August 31, 1813, aged fifty years; Catherine, 
daughter of Griffith and Ann Parry, died January 1, 
1808. 

Owen Owens, died September 3, 1823, aged eighty- 
five years. 

John T. Jones, died October 23, 1821, aged forty- 
seven years; Jane, his wife, died March 2, 1854, aged 
seventy-six years. 

John Spoonley, died April 2, 1812, aged fifty-two 
years; Hannah, his wife, died July 27, 1839, aged eighty- 
seven years. 

John R. Griffiths, born in Trefeglwys, Montgomery- 
shire, North Wales, died August 2, 1825, aged seventy- 
seven years; Mary, his wife, died May 15, 1840, aged 
eighty-six years. 

Griffith J. Griffiths, died August 9, 1866, aged sev- 
enty-four years; Ann, his wife, died March 10, 1851, 
aged fifty -two years. 

Joseph Richards, died November 6, 1852, aged forty- 
five years. 

FAIRCHILD CEMETERY 

Ezekiel Fairchild, died July 15, 1829, aged seventy- 
three years. 

Betsy, wife of Benjamin Fairchild, died June 23, 
1826, aged thirty years. 

Oliver Smith, died July 7, 1826, aged sixty years. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 387 

Peggy, wife of Oliver Smith, died May 4, 1812, aged 
forty-three years. 

John Halstead, died May 23, 1826, aged twenty-two 
years. 

Martha, wife of Thomas M. Sheldon, died Novem- 
ber 29, 1813, aged twenty-four years. 

Olive, wife of Jeremiah Bonner, died May 30, 1844, 
aged fifty-two years. 

Samuel Bonner, born July 4, 1812, died July 18, 1896; 
Diana G., his wife, born March 15, 1812, died May 17, 
1898. 

Clarissa, wife of Caleb Steves, died June 4, 1841, 
aged fifty-five years. 

Caleb T. Nichols, died September 25, 1855, aged 
seventy-five years. 

William E. White, bom January 2, 1810, died May 
26, 1900. 

Seth Smith, died September 11, 1865, aged eighty- 
one years. 

James Townsend, died January 7, 1813, aged thirty- 
nine years. 

Dolly, wife of Perez Farr, died July 15, 1850, aged 
seventy years. 

Maria, wife of William Gay, died November 7, 1854, 
aged forty-two years. 

Hanorah, wife of Enoch Rogers, died December 26, 
1810, aged twenty-six years. 

James Reynolds, died December 29, 1829, aged 
thirty-five years. 

PEN-Y-CAERAU CEMETERY 

A monument erected in this cemetery bears the fol- 
lowing inscriptions : "Erected by the Calvinistic Meth- 



388 HISTORY OF REMSEN 

odist Churches of the State of New York, to the mem- 
ory of Rev. Benjamin Davis, the first ordained minis- 
ter of the denomination in America; born at Risca, 
Monmouthshire, South Wales, 1802, ordained at the 
church of Pen-y-caerau, 1826, died at Remsen June 25, 
1836; Bridget, his wife, born August, 1791, died Au- 
gust, 1864. 

"Rev. Robert Meredith, died April 15, 1841, aged 
forty-eight years. 

"Rev. David E. Davies, died August 31, 1843, aged 
thirty-four years." 



INDEX 



Academy, Remsen, 170. 
Academy, Steuben, 169, 170. 
Adams, Rev. Aaron, 150, 171, 207. 
Adams, Moses, 13. 171. 
Adgate's Patent, 62. 63. 
Adsit, Stephen, 14. 
Agriculture, 54. 

Albany County, the first civil di- 
vision, 62. 
Alexander, Rev. Caleb, 109, 298. 
Allen, Calvin, 348. 
Allen, James, 348. 
Allen, Willard, 348. 
Allen, William, 352. 
Andrews, Doctor, 193. 
Anthony, Rowland, 98. 
Asheries, 92. 
Austin, Silas, 14. 

B 

Bardwell, Consider, 19, 291. 
Bardwell, David, 19, 94, 103. 
Bardwell, Elias, 19, 94. 
Bardwell Family, The, 291. 
Bardwell, settlement, 20. 
Bardwelltown, 94. 
Barnes, Daniel, 13. 
Beadle, Filkins, 286. 
Beaurhyte, James, 341. 
Becker, Peter, 87. 
Beecher, Jerome, 102. 
Beecher, Col. Mather, 28, loi, 341. 
Bellinger, David, 29. 
Bethel, early settlers at, 35. 
Bctticher, Jacob, 22. 



Bill, Dr. Earl, 13. 88, 143, 165, 191, 
277. 

Bill Family, The, 277. 

Billings, Maj. Andrew, 33, 367. 

Billings, Andrew, Jr., 92. 

Black River, 60. 

Black River Canal, 36. 

Black River Highlands, 7. 

Black River House, 74. 

Black River Railroad Co., The, 79. 

Black River and Utica Railroad 
Co., The, 80. 

Blacksmithing, 104. 

Blacksmiths, early, 106. 

Blue & Noble, loi. 

Bonaparte, Joseph, 77. 

Bonner, John, i, 19. 

Bonner, Jeremiah, 19. 

Boon, Gerrit, 65, 71, 87. 

Boon Grist-mill, 94. 

Boon's Bridge, 73. 

Boon's Upper Settlement, 72; high- 
way to, 72. 

Booth, Elisha, 378. 

Borden, Joshua, 19. 

Bridgcman, Dr. George P., 194, 373. 

Bristol, Friend, 88. 

Bronson, John, 103. 

Brooks, Stephen, Sr., 12. 

Browncll, Joseph, 21. 

Buffington, Stephen, 297. 

Bull, Amos, 18, 281. 

Bull Family, The, 281. 

Bull, James, 214. 

Burchard Family, The, 328. 



390 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 



Burchard, Jabez, 329. 
Burchard, Rev. Samuel, 182, 331. 
Burchard, Sylvester, 57, 98, 330. 
Burchard, Theodore, 89. 
Burial Grounds, 161. 
Burritt, Bailey, 20. 
Burritt's Mills, 20, 94. 
Butler's Ford, 180. 
Butler's Monument, 181. 
Butler, Walter, 62, 180. 
Butter-making, 54. 
Butter Merchants, 55. 



Cady, Andrew, Sr., 319. 

Calvinism in early days, 117. 

Canals, 78. 

Canal, Black River, 78. 

Canal, Erie, 78. 

Capel Bont, 142. 

Casualties, 224. 

Cemetery Records, 385. 

Charles, Owen, 355. 

Chaumont, Le Ray de, 77. 

Cheese-making, 54. 

Churches, as arbiters, 156. 

Church Council, 135. 

Church Discipline, enforcement 
of, ISS- 

Church Division, 134. 

Cincinnati creek, 23; origin of 
name, 24. 

Circuit Riders, Methodist Epis- 
copal, 148. 

Civil Divisions, earliest, 2. 

Clark, Doctor, 192. 

Cloth Mills, 100. 

Cobin Dick, 184. 

Cold Summer, 28, 211. 

Cole, Gilbert, 18, 316. 

Corduroy Road, 72. 

Crosby, Juder, 28, 89, 316. 



Cross, Shubael, i, 17, 18, 71, 87, 

94- 
Crosstown, 94. 
Crowell, Elisha, 13. 
Cuffin, Thomas, 296. 
Currency, scarcity of, 215. 

D 

Davis, Colonel, 14. 
Dawson, George, 88. 
Dayton, Daniel, 19. 
Dayton, Daniel, Jr., 19. 
Dayton, Horace, 19. 
Dayton, Jonah, i, 18, 272. 
Dayton, Solomon, 19. 
Disciples of Christ, 152. 
Distilleries, 98. 
District School, The, 166. 
Dodd, Ebenezer, 18. 
Dustin, Maj. Samuel, 380. 



Early Merchants, etc., 40. 

Early Sports, 220. 

Edmunds, John, 27. 

Edwards, Edward, 346. 

Election, three days, 185. 

Ellis Foundry' and Machine Shop, 

104. 
Ellis, Morris, 310. 
Ellis, John, 104. 
Enlli Welsh Whitfield Methodist 

Church of Remsen, The, 152. 
Everett, Rev. Robert, D. D., 375. 
Evan, William, 340. 
Evans, Edward Payson, 370. 
Evans, Rev. Evan, 370. 
Evans, John, 294, 351, 378. 
Evans, Rev. Thomas T., 377. 
Evans, Owen S., 379. 
Evans, William S., 378. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 



391 



Fairchild, Agur, 18, 280. 
Fairchild, Benjamin, 100. 
Fairchild, Ezekiel, 18, 171. 
Fairchild Family, The, 280. 
Fairchild, settlement of, 18. 
Fairfield Institution threatened, 

163. 
Farr, Perez, i, 19, 281. 
Ferry, Heman, 28, 30, 92, 98, 165, 

334- 

Ferry, Rev. William M., 335. 

Fires and Firemen, 223. 

First, Anti-spirits society organ- 
ized, 159; Baptist Church in 
Steuben, 142; Baptist Society 
formed, 142; Burials, where 
made, 161; Calvinistic Meth- 
odist Society in Steuben, 152; 
Cast iron plows, 57; Ceme- 
teries, 161; Congregational 
Society in Remsen. 113; 114; 
Congregational Society in 
Steuben, 143; Cook stoves 
in use, 57; Death, 18; Grain- 
cradle, 57; Grist-mill, 94; Inn 
keeper, 82, 87; Justice of the 
peace, 18; Mail-riders, 74; 
Mail-route, 74; Methodist 
Episcopal Church in Remsen, 
151; of Steuben, 143; Baptist 
Church of Steuben, 143; Phy- 
sician, 13; Presbyterian So- 
ciety of Steuben, 112; Post- 
master, 25; Religious dis- 
course in Remsen, 109; Resi- 
dent land agent, 18; Resident 
minister in Remsen, 19; Rem- 
sen Whitfield Methodist So- 
ciety, 145; Saw-mills, 87, 96; 
School-master, 13, 171; School 



meeting, 165; School-house in 
Remsen, 165; Settlers, where 
from, 69; Shoe factory, loi; 
Stages, 74; Store, 22; Super- 
visor, 18; Tannery, 28, loi; 
Telegraph line, 81; Welsh 
Baptist Church in Steuben, 
130; Welsh Congregational 
Church of Steuben, 1 19; Welsh 
sermon, 109; White child born, 
17; White male child, 12; 
Woman married in Remsen, 
18. 

Forestport, township erected, 39. 

Foster, "Nat.", 19. 

Foster, Shubael, 19. 

Fowler, Silas, 25. 

Foundry, 98. 

Francis, Aaron, 12. 

Francis, Joseph I., 355. 

Francis, Wallace, 355. 

Francis, William, 355. 

Franklin, Harry, 19. 

Franklin, James, 19. 

Frazier, William, 26. 

Free Masons, 170; lodge of, 227. 

French Road, 71; settlers on, 33. 

Fuller Family, The, 263. 

Fuller Reminiscences, 181. 

Fuller, Capt. Simeon, 13, 185, 244. 

Fuller, Simeon R., 265. 

Furnace, smelting, 98. 



Gang Mills, 180. 

Geology, Trenton formation, 8. 

George, Evan, 27, 295. 

Gillet, Dr. Alfred, 185, 191. 

Gillette, Solomon, 18. 

Glidden, P. N., 207. 

Good Templars, lodge of, 231. 

Grass-hoppers, plague of, 213. 



392 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 



Graves desecrated, 162. 
Gray, Benjamin F., 378. 
Grazing and Dairying, 54. 
Green, Ezra, 265. 
Green Family, The, 265. 
Griffiths, Rev. D. P., 140. 
Griffiths, Evan, 291. 
Griffiths, Owen, 183, 289. 
Griffiths, Owen M., 88. 367. 
Griffiths, Timothy, 312. 
Griffiths, VVilHam, 347. 
Grist-mill, the first, 94, 183. 
Griswold, Doctor, 193. 
Guiteau, Calvin, 21, 65. 
Guiteau, Dr. Luther, 190. 
Gunpowder plot, 222. 

H 

Hale & Kaulback, 102. 
Hall, Enoch, 19. 
Hall, James, 19. 
Hall, Raymond, 19. 
Halstead Family, The, 286. 
Halstead, Joseph, 88, 286. 
Hamilton, Judge Thomas, 14. 
Hampshire Missionary Society, 

109. 
Harris, Rev. James, 139. 
Hatch, John, 352. 
Hats manufactured, 103. 
Hassencleavcr Mountain, 7. 
Herring, A. C., 100. 
Hicks, John, 384. 
Hicks, Col. Thomas, 73. 
Hicks, William, 88, 383. 
Higby, Oliver, 88, 372. 
Higby Tavern, 83. 
Highways, early projected, 71. 
Hinckley, 180. 
Hinckley Family, The. 275. 
Hinckley, Gershom, 18. 165, 275. 



Holland Land Company, 64. 
Holland Patent, 66. 
Hollister, Ephraim, 18, 92, 267. 
Hollister Family, The, 267. 
Holmer, Rev., 142. 
Hough, Alfred N., 257. 
Hough, Amos, 13. 
Hough's Hill, 89. 
Hough, Homer J., 258. 
Hough, Lemuel, 13, 21, 89, 257. 
Howe, Jonah, 365. 
Howe, Samuel, 18. 
Howell, Rev. Stephen, 139. 
Hoyt, Ephraim, 112. 
Hoyt Family, The, 268. 
Hoyt, Matthew, 27, 83, 268. 
Hawley, Thomas, 100. 
Hubbard, Bcla, 13. 
Hubbard, Fairchild, 13. 
Hubbard, Joel, 13. 
Hubbard, Noadiah, 13, 252. 
Hubbard, Samuel, 13. 
Hughes, Hugh, 344. 
Hughes, John, 355. 
Hughes, John L., 366. 
Hughes, John T., 309. 
Hughes, Rev. Thomas, 155. 
Humphrey, Robert, 369. 
Hutchinson, Stephen, 25, 269. 



Improved methods slowly adopted, 

56. 
Indian Camps, 175. 
Indian Industries, 176. 
Indians, fear of, 175. 
Inns, early, 82. 
Instruments, musical, 207. 
Ingham Family, The, 259. 
Ingham, John, 259. 
Ingham, Capt. Joseph, 13, 259. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 



393 



"Jack," local name for Remsen, 23. 
James, Rev. John W., 139. 
Jenkins, Edward, 363. 
Johnson, Sir John, 64. 
Johnson, Nathaniel B., 258. 
Johnson, Samuel, 100. 
Johnson, Sir William, 63. 
Jones, Cornelius R., 304. 
Jones, David I., 385. 
Jones, David R., 325. 
Jones, Edward, 26. 
Jones, Rev. Erasmus, 160, 207, 

373- 
Jones, Griffith, 356. 
Jones, Griffith G., 309. 
Jones, Griffith I., 337. 
Jones, Griffith M., 351. 
Jones, Griffith Methuselah, 26. 
Jones, Hugh, 27, 309, 360. 
Jones, John, 310. 
Jones, John, Sr., 312. 
Jones, John G., 99. 
Jones, John L., Sr., 342. 
Jones, John R., 380. 
Jones, Rev. John Seth, 140. 
Jones, Morris, 3CX). 
Jones, Morris R., 304. 
Jones, Moses, 146. 
Jones, Rev. Richard, 26, 320. 
Jones, Richard W., 356. 
Jones, Robert, 306. 
Jones, Robert M., 26, 73, 96, 303. 
Jones, Dr. Roy, 195. 
Jones, Thomas D., sculptor, 327. 
Jones, Thomas T., 359. 
Jones, Rev. Thos. Z. R., 325. 
Jones, Rev. William, 139. 
Jones, William B., 106. 
Jones, William C, 293. 
Jones, William P., 292. 



Jones, William T., 366. 

Journal of Rev. John Taylor, no, 

112. 
Journey of the immigrants, 68; 

description of 68; hardships of, 

70. 
Joy & Joins, 104. 

K 

Kellogg, Doctor, 192. 
Kent Family, The, 272. 
Kent, Capt. John, 183, 271. 
Kent, Silas, Sr., 272. 
King, Ebenezer, 18, 82. 
Klock, George, 63. 
Klock, J. G., 63. 



Lambert, Rev. Chandley, 342. 

Larabee, Elisha, 19, 243. 

Lawyers, 187. 

Leach, Asa, 333. 

Le Clerc, Bettis, i. 

Lewis, Jacob, 84, 106, 184, 361. 

Lewis, John, 311. 

Lewis, William, 88, 358. 

Lime Kilns, 93. 

Lincklaen, John, 65. 

Linen, process of manufacture, 91. 

M 

MacDonald, John, 26, 333. 
Mail Riders, the first, 74. 
Mail Route, the first, 74. 
Manchester, Nathaniel, 369. 
Manuel, David, 342. 
Manuel, John, 342. 
Martin, Asa, Sr., 29. 
Martin, Asa, Jr., 29. 
Martin, John, 29. 
Martin, Obadiah, 29. 



394 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 



Mason and Anti-Mason, 170. 

Massachusetts Missionar)'^ Society, 
109. 

Maurice Family, The, 360. 

Merricic, John, 13. 

Messenger, 89. 

Methodists, early, 149. 

Methodist Episcopal Black River 
Circuit, 148. 

Methodist Episcopal Church of 
Ninety Six, 153. 

Methodist Society, early, 150. 

Michael, Rev. David, 139. 

Militia, The, 209. 

Miller, David, 13. 

Mine Prospectors, 218. 

Mitchell, Barnabas, i, 246. 

Mitchell, James, 247. 

Mitchell, Jotham, 13. 

Mitchell, Milo, 246. 

Mitchell, Moses, 143. 

Mitchell, Tyler, 88. 

Missionaries, New England, 108. 

Mohawk & Malone Railroad, 81. 

Mohawk Turnpike, The, 73. 

Montague Family, The, 285. 

Montague, Rev. Joseph, 143, 285. 

Moore, Sir Henry, 63. 

Morey, Dr. George H., 194. 

Morgan, Gains, 143. 

Morgan, Jesse, 18, 284. 

Morris, Rev. David, 142. 

Morris, Jenkin, 29, 348. 

Morris, Dr. Thomas, 194. 

Montgomery County, name adopt- 
ed, 62. 

Murders and ghosts, 214. 

Musical Instruments, 207. 

N 

Nash, .Andrew, 103. 
Nash, Jacob C, 25. 



Nichols Family, The, 343. 
Nichols, Caleb, 18. 
Nichols, Garner, 29. 
Nichols, Morey, Sr., 29. 
Nichols, Thomas, 29. 
Ninety Six, 29; why so called, 29. 
Noble & Blue, 28. 
Northern Plank Road Co., The, 74. 
North School-house, The, 165. 
North Steuben Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, 152. 
North, William, 248. 

O 

Observance of Sunday, 156. 
Odd Fellows, lodge of, 230. 
Olden Barnevcld, 71. 
Old Road, traces of, 186. 
Olmstead, Doctor, 192. 
Oneida County formed, 2. 
Owen, Evan, 290. 
Owen, James, 346. 
Owen, Josiah, 98. 
Owen, Morgan, 358. 
Owen, Robert, 357. 
Owens, Evan, 344, 351. 
Owens, Hugh, 26. 
Owens, Richard, 107. 



Parker, James, 94. 
Parker Hollow, 95. 
Patent, Adgate's, 62, 63. 
Patent, Remsenburgh, 62, 63. 
Patent, Service's, 62, 63, 64. 
Patent, Woodhull's, 62. 
Parry, John, 27, 293. 
Peck, Capt. Eleazer, 18. 
Pensioners, revolutionary, 226. 
Perry, Benjamin, Jr., 353. 
Perr>', John, 98, 354. 
Perr>% Rev. Owen F., 142. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 



595 



Perr>-, Dr. Robert, 191. 

Perry, William, 352. 

Phelps, Harvey, Jr., 98, 315. 

Phelps, Nathan, 98. 

Phelps saw-mill, 98. 

Phillips, Champion, 13. 

Phillips, John, 13. 

Phillips, Thompson, 13. 

Physicians, 188; early qualifica- 
tions of, 189. 

Pioneers, conditions confronting, 
2, 10; households, 90. 

Pirnie, Alexander, 384. 

Plank Road Co., Northern, 74. 

Plank Road Completed, 35. 

Piatt, John, Jr., 13, 28, 256. 

Piatt, John, St., 13, 255. 

Piatt Mills, 95. 

Piatt, Obadiah, 13, 256. 

Piatt, Richard, 13. 

Piatt, William, 13, 21, 87, 255. 

Plows, manufacture of, 98. 

Porter, Chester, 102. 

Potash, manufacture of, 91. 

Potter, Robert G., 88, 317. 

Powell, Lewis, 347. 

Powers, Timothy, 98, 99. 

Postage, early rates of, 75. 

Postofhce established, 25. 

Price, Edward, Sr., 340. 

Price, Dr. James, 193. 

Prichard, John D., 207. 

Prichard, William, 332. 

Prindlc, Moses W., 106, 343. 

Prindle, Walker, 106. 

Productions, early, 8. 

Professional Men, 187. 

Prominent Men of Remsen, from 
183 1 to 1848, 34, 35. 

Prospect Cemetery, 164. 

Public Worship, attendance on, 157. 

Pugh, John, 379. 



Q 



Quick-lime, manufacture of, 93. 
R 

Rechabites, the order of, 160, 
230. 

Redemptioners, 5. 

Reed, Dr. David H., 194. 

Remsen Academy, 170. 

Remsen Family, The, 232. 

Remsen formed from Norway, 62. 

Remsen, Henry, 63. 

Remsen, Henry HI, 235. 

Remsen, how located, 60. 

Remsen Mills, when built, 100. 

Remsen, Township erected, 2; ori- 
ginal proprietor of, 233. 

Remsen village, first buildings, 20; 
first settler, 21; descriptive 
view of, 30. 

Rich, Dr. Frederick, 195. 

Richards, Owen, 350. 

Richards, William S., 362. 

Roberts, Dr. Daniel, 185, 191, 195, 

354- 
Roberts, Edward, 372. 
Roberts, Rev. Evan, 159, 357. 
Roberts, GriflEth W., 92, 365. 
Roberts, John, 295, 296, 356. 
Roberts, Rev. Morris, 146, 371. 
Roberts, Rev. Richard, 138. 
Roberts, Robert, 296. 
Roberts, Roscoe C, 107. 
Roberts, William, 362, 364. 
Robotham, William, 360. 
Roby, Samuel, 29, 92, 353. 
Rockwood Family, The, 269. 
Rockwood, Nathaniel, i, 269. 
Rogers, Enoch, 25. 
Root, Gen. Zalmon, 100, 340. 
Rounds & Turner, 103. 



396 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 



Rowland, Griffith, 183, 290. 

Rowland, Owen, 354. 

Rowlands, Rev. William, D. D., 147 



Sabbath, Puritan custom of ob- 
serving, 157. 

St. David's Society, 231. 

Salt, journeys after, 56. 

Scott, Phillip, 18, 190. 

School-house, description of, 166. 

School-houses, early, 165. 

Schuyler, Peter, 94. 

Second Baptist Church of Steuben 
organized, 130. 

Second Independent Congrega- 
tional Church, 152. 

Second Methodist Episcopal 
Church of Remsen, 150. 

Secret Societies, 227. 

Service, Peter, 63, 64, 65; Patent, 

65; 
Settlers, early, ii; slow to adopt 

improved methods, 56. 
Sheldon, James, 83, 273. 
Singing Master, The, 205. 
Sixty Acres, Baron Steuben's 

homestead, 11. 
Sizer, Samuel, 10, 65. 
Slawson, Peter, 19. 
Slawson, Stephen, 19. 
Society of Pen-y-graig of Remsen, 

152. 
Soil, description of, 8. 
Sole Leather, how tanned, 56. 
Smith, Bohan, 292. 
Smith, Carlos, 29. 
Smith, James, 21, 87, 284. 
Smith, Jesse, 361. 
Smith, Joab, 21. 
Smith, John, 88. 
Smith, Oliver, 29, 87. 



Smith, Theodore, 25. 
Social pleasures, 52. 
Sparks, Dr. E. N., 194. 
Sports, early, 220. 

Sprague, , 25. 

Stages, the first, 74, 75; description 

of, 75, 76. 
Stage Driver, The, 76. 
Stage Lines, 1830, 77. 
Starr, Dr. Comfort, 248. 
Starr, Capt. David, 12, 249. 
Starr Family, The, 248. 
Starr's Hill, 7, 250. 
State Dam Constructed, 36. 
State Road, 73, 82. 
Steam Grist-mill, 100. 
Stebbins, John, 25, 273. 
Steele, Rev. Eliphalet, 112. 
Stephens, Rev. David, 146. 
Stephens, Rev. Thomas, 142. 
Steuben Academy, trustees of, 

169. 
Steuben, area of, 67. 
Steuben, Baron, 11, 236. 
Steuben, Benjamin Walker, 262. 
Steuben, description of, 67. 
Steuben, Grant, 65. 
Steuben, Jonathan Arnold, 261. 
Steuben Road, when opened, 72. 
Steuben Township, when erected, 

66. 
Steuben, William Augustus North, 

262. 
Stevens, Doctor, 192. 
Steves, Caleb, 359. 
Stoves, manufacture of, 98. 
Sunday observance, 156. 



Taylor, Rev. John, 14, 67. no, 

171, 300. 
Teachers, requirements of, 167. 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 



397 



Tefft, Rev. Edmund, 19. 
Telegraphic Line, the first, 81. 
Temperance, 127, 158. 
Terry, Dr. David, 194. 
Text-books in schools, 168. 
Training, general, 210. 
Trj^on County, when erected, 62. 
Thomas, Charles, 29. 
Thomas, Daniel, 314. 
Thomas, David Philip, 103. 
Thomas, Didymus, 318. 
Thomas, Evan, 293. 
Thomas, Hugh, 106. 
Thomas, Hugh, Jr., 107. 
Thomas, Richard, 103, 368. 
Thomas, Robert, 310. 
Thomas, Thomas, 317. 
Thomas, Rev. Henry, 140. 
Thomas, Rev. William, 138. 
Thomas, William H., 29. 
Three days' election, 185. 
Timber, natural growth, 9. 
Topography, 6. 
Townsend, James, 25. 
Township divided, 37. 
Township, for whom named, 18. 
Tryon County, set off, 62. 
Turnpike, Mohawk, 73. 
Turnpike, Utica & Black River, 73. 
Turnpike, when completed, 28. 
Tuttle, Hull, 27. 
Tuttle, Vincent 94, 98. 

U 

Utica & Black River Railroad Co., 

80. 
Utica & Black River Turnpike, 

The, 73. 

V 

Van Ingen, Dirck, 63. 
Van Sice, John, 63. 



Vincent, Doctor, 193. 

W 

Wages, early rates, 5. 

Walker, Benjamin, 247. 

Wall, Frederick W., 363. 

Ward, Austin, 172, 207. 

Ward, David, 143. 

Ward, Salmon, 13. 

Weeks, Asa, 19. 

Weeks Family, The, 282. 

Weeks, Ebenezer, 12, 143, 282. 

Welsh Calvinistic Methodists, 144. 

Welsh, condition in Wales, 14. 

Welsh Immigrants, first to arrive, 

1, 14, 17. 
Welsh Immigration, cessation of, 

153- 
Welsh Immigration to Oneida 
County, 15; diverted to the west, 

IS- 

Welsh Methodist Episcopal So- 
ciety at Sixty Acres, 153. 

Welsh Preachers, early, 118. 

Welsh Religious Nationalists, 144. 

Welsh Whitfield Calvinistic Meth- 
odist Church in Steuben, 152. 

West Canada Creek, 7. 

Western Navigation Co., The, 78. 

Wheldon, William, 357. 

White, Broughton, 21, 73, 171, 
172, 284. 

White, Green, 19, 179, 287. 

Whiteman, Henry, 311. 

Whitestown formed, 62. 

Whitfield Methodist Society, 145. 

Wiggins, Dr. Richard H., 194. 

Wilkinson, William, 314. 

Willett, Col. Marinus, 180. 

Williams, Rev. Ambrose, 139. 

Williams, David, 26. 



398 



HISTORY OF REMSEN 



Will 
Will 
Will 
Will 

Will: 
Will 
Will 



ams, Dr. E. G., 194. 
ams, Evan, 307. 
ams, Rev. Morgan, 312. 
ams, Rev. Morris J., 139. 
ams, Thomas, 379. 
ams, William, 309, 362. 
ams, William P., 368. 



Witherell, Judson, Sr., 273. 
Woodruff, Capt. Simeon, 13, 181. 
Worden, John, 298. 
Worden, William, 27. 



Young, "Mike", 184. 



Wilson, Robert, 358. 



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11 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 109 637 




